The body of the second missing Army paratrooper was recovered today during a massive search and rescue operation in the Gadole forests of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said.
Two paratroopers had gone missing earlier this week during an operation in the high-altitude forest area, prompting security forces to launch an extensive search.
A senior official said that the body of one soldier, along with a weapon and a rucksack, was recovered yesterday, while the second body was found today in the same area.
The operation was carried out in difficult terrain under harsh weather conditions as the area had received two feet snow.
The soldiers are believed to have died in a weather-related accident. Authorities have withheld his identity pending further proceedings.
The Army’s Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said on X late on Wednesday night that on the intervening night of October 6 and 7, an operational team in the Kishtwar range encountered a severe snowstorm and whiteout conditions in the mountains of south Kashmir.
“Since then, two soldiers have lost communication. Intense search and rescue operations have been launched, but progress has been hampered by prevailing adverse weather conditions,” the Army had said.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of paratrooper recovered yesterday was airlifted from Gadole to Army’s Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar.
