HTC & Agencies

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Srinagar/Jammu : A soldier was killed and three others were injured when an avalanche hit an army post in Drass belt of Ladakh’s Kargil district on Thursday, officials said.

The avalanche hit the army post in Mushkoh valley in which four soldiers were buried, they said. One soldier died while three injured were rescued, they added.

A man was also killed after he fell while clearing snow from the roof of his house in south Kashmir’s Sathora Tral village on Thursday, as the Valley continued to receive more snow.

Fresh landslides struck the Jammu-Srinagar national highway which remained closed for the fourth consecutive day.

Snowfall on Kashmir side of the highway since Sunday has resulted in blockade of the highway. As a result of the blockade, over 5,000 vehicles are stranded at various places en route from Lakhanpur in Kathua district to Banihal belt of Ramban district and also on the Kashmir side.

At least 10 flights bound for Kashmir valley were cancelled due to bad weather on Thursday.

The weather department has predicted another spell of moderate to heavy snowfall from next week. Srinagar MeT director, Sonum Lotus, said that for next five days there will be improvement in weather conditions. “We expect another spell of snow from January 21.” Several parts of south Kashmir have been observing heavy snowfall since Wednesday night. htc & Agencies