Ten soldiers were killed while several others are missing after two avalanches in Gurez Sector of Kashmir, an army official said on Thursday.

An avalanche hit an army camp in Gurez sector of Bandipora district near the Line of Control last evening in which several soldiers were trapped, the army official said. The official said another avalanche hit a patrol party which was on its way to a post in Gurez sector last evening.

Army said rescue operations were launched and seven soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer were saved.

He said the exact number of missing soldiers was not yet known as heavy snowfall was hampering ongoing operations.

On Wednesday, an officer was killed in an avalanche at Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district while four members of a family died in another avalanche in Gurez sector.

Authorities have issued a high danger avalanche warning in hilly parts of snow-bound Kashmir valley in view of fresh snowfall which has been going on intermittently for past three days.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar took to Twitter to condole the deaths of soldiers:

Heartfelt condolences to families of our Armymen who have lost their lives in avalanches in J&K in the past two days.

— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) January 26, 2017