Sonamarg, Mar 28: The death toll in the Zojila avalanche has rise to seven with the recovery of one more body from the avalanche site while one person who was injured also succumbed to injuries on Saturday.
Officials said that the search and rescue operation resumed on Saturday morning with Police, Army, BRO, and volunteers pressed into work.
They said one more body was recovered from the avalanche site while one injured who was treated at the hospital succumbed to injuries, taking the death toll to seven. Officials said that atleast six people were injured.
The incident occured on Friday afternoon when an avalanche struck near zero point area of Zojila Pass along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway and buried several vehicles.
A joint operation was launched by the Ladakh Police, BRO, Army, CRPF, J&K Police in Ganderbal, volunteers of Ansar-ul-Mehdi (Al-Mehdi Scouts), and Al-Reza Health Care and Research Foundation of Jamiat-ul-Ulama Isna Asharia Kargil (JUIAK) Ladakh on Friday evening and five bodies were recovered.
On Saturday, BRO pressed its men and machinery to clear the snow avalanche from the road to restore the connectivity.
However, the road remains closed for traffic movement.
Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh V K Saxena announced ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of deceased.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of seven lives in the avalanche near Zojila Pass on Friday. The J&K administration will be giving ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the Next of Kin (NoK) of the deceased. I have directed the district administration to extend all necessary assistance to the aggrieved and the injured,” the LG Ladakh said.
