Missing jawan found dead; toll 3

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 4

The Army jawan who went missing following Monday’s avalanche that hit a border outpost was found dead by Army rescuers at Chiyalekh today. The jawan has been identified as Sahib Singh from Haryana.

“With this, the total number of Army persons who died at the Chiyalekh camp has gone up to three. Two Army helicopters were sent out for rescue and relief operations today,” said a district administration source. The overall death toll in the sudden change in weather over the past 48 hours stands at nine in the Kumaon region of the state. The bodies of the jawans were brought to Pithoragarh today for a post-mortem examination. Security personnel manning the border outposts of ITBP and Army remained extra vigilant as the weather department predicted more snow and rain in the higher reaches for today.

“The paramilitary and Army posts at higher reached have taken note of the weather alert,” said RS Rana, District Disaster Management Officer, Pithoragarh.