170 dead in Kashmir winter storms

If you have struggled to work through the snow and ice that is currently affecting parts of Great Britain, spare a thought for those in Kashmir. At least 170 people are reported to have been killed in the Indian administered region after avalanches and mudslides buried villages and devastated buildings. According to the BBC, parts of Kashmir have seen as much as 15 feet of snow since Friday, with thousands of travellers stranded on roads and in tunnels across the area. The Indian Air Force is reported to have rescued 45 tourists including eight Britons and 15 French nationals. There is more snow forecast, and there are fears that more avalanches could keep roads closed for several more days. As it is, hundreds of villagers remain stranded; the BBC quotes one official as saying: “These areas are very far off and it takes eight hours of walking through heavy snow to get there.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd