Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 12

The Army rescued 73 passengers, including women and children, who were stranded at the Nasta Chun pass in frontier Kupwara district due to an avalanche triggered by a fresh snowfall.The passengers were stranded on Friday night at the Nasta Chun pass, also known as Sadhna Gali, on the Kupwara-Tangdhar road.Defence spokesman Col NN Joshi said a report was received by an Army post at Nasta Chun that vehicles ferrying people, including women, children and aged, and an ambulance with a critically ill heart patient was stranded approximately 1.5 km from the Nasta Chun pass.“As the report was received, the Army avalanche rescue team sprung into action immediately despite harsh weather conditions, snow blizzard and zero visibility. The rescue team of the local Rashtriya Rifles unit rescued 73 civilians, including women, children and a critically ill heart patient. The rescue team gave medical aid and provided safe passage to the passengers,” the spokesman said.