Snowfall claims 17 lives in Indian-controlled Kashmir

At least 17 people were killed due to the recent snowfall in Indian- controlled Kashmir, officials said Friday. "It was stated in the meeting that as many as 17 deaths have been reported due to the snow catastrophe," a government spokesman said. The snowfall has also damaged over 1,900 houses in the colder parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "There has been tentative estimate of partially and fully damages to 1,922 houses while as the damage to the property in the Jammu division is being assessed," the spokesman said. The snowfall and rains lashed the region for three days, uprooting trees and taking down power transmission lines. Officials said they are trying hard to restore electricity to towns. "The power development department (PDD) has pressed in men to restore the electricity to the towns," said an official. "The electricity has been restored in some areas but some areas are still cut off." The authorities in the wake of fresh snowfall has issued avalanche warning for people inhabiting upper reaches and areas close to the line-of-control (LoC), a de facto border that divides Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts. Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains and heavy snowfall.