1 trooper killed, 5 missing in avalanche in India's Himachal Pradesh

NEW DELHI, Feb. 20 -- A trooper was killed and five others went missing on Wednesday after an avalanche hit them in northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, officials said.

The avalanche hit the troopers in Namgia region of Kinnaur district, about 292 km northeast of Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh.

"Today here an avalanche hit six army personnel, who were on a routine patrol in Dogri Nala. Though one was rescued but he succumbed on way to hospital," deputy commissioner Gopal Chand told Xinhua over telephone.

"The search for remaining five personnel who are believed to be trapped underneath snow is underway."

Authorities have dispatched paramilitary troopers and police, besides disaster response force personnel, to carry out searches for the trapped ones.

Officials said the chances of survival for the missing troopers were bleak.

India's National Disaster Management Authority has issued avalanche warnings for Himachal Pradesh, Indian-controlled Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

Earlier this month, 10 people including six policemen were killed after an avalanche hit their post in Indian-controlled Kashmir.