Swedish tourist killed in Gulmarg avalanche

Srinagar, January 18

A Swedish skier (25) was killed after an avalanche hit the upper reaches of the Gulmarg resort here today.

Tourism Director Mehmood Shah said a Swedish tourist, identified as Daniel, was killed on Thursday after he along with his friend had went for skiing in the upper reaches of Hapathkhod in Gulmarg.

“After we got the information, our rescue teams went immediately, but Daniel had died, however, his friend Benjeman was rescued safely,” Shah said.

Benjeman and Daniel went missing in an avalanche near the second phase of Gulmarg gondola on the Apharwat peak. While Benjeman was rescued by the ski rescue team of the J&K Police, Daniel was declared dead. His body has been sent to Tangmarg for postmortem.

“We issue daily advisories for skiers. Today, we has asked the tourists not to go for skiing in the upper reaches as there was a warning of an avalanche,” the official added.

On Wednesday, the authorities issued an avalanche warning for seven districts of Kashmir till Thursday evening.

Shah said the resort was yet to receive proper snowfall and the peak skiing season was yet to take off at Gulmarg in February.

“As of now, there are not many foreign tourists in Gulmarg,” he added.

Meanwhile, travel and tour operators of the Valley have expressed grief over the death of the tourist and prayed for the departed soul.— TNS