Forest guard killed in avalanche in Pangi of Chamba district
A forest guard was killed in an avalanche at Kuddu Nullah near Sulgwas in tribal Pangi region of the Chamba district on Wednesday evening.
A forest guard was killed in an avalanche at Kuddu Nullah near Sulgwas in tribal Pangi region of the Chamba district on Wednesday evening.
The deceased, in his late 30s, has been identified as Hemraj, a resident of the Mandi district. He was posted in Kuched beat of Udaypur forest circle of Lahaul and Spiti and was on his way to join the duty, on foot via Pangi.
The Lahaul and Spiti is cut off from rest of the world due to heavy snow and the only way to reach the tribal district is the trek through Pangi region.
Eyewitnesses said that Hemraj was swept by an avalanche and buried under tons of snow at Kuddu Nullah, around 3 km from Sulgwas. Pangi sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) KS Chaudhary has confirmed the incident.
The locals informed the resident commissioner about the incident after which the civil administration started a search operation to trace the body.
A team of police, jawans from General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) wing of army and local residents have been involved in the search operation.
It is fourth death in an avalanche in Pangi region in past twenty days. Earlier, a panchayati raj representative (PRI) of Rei Pachayat and his wife and a youth were killed in avalanche in two separate incidents. So far, their bodies have not been traced.