Death toll in a series of avalanches in Kashmir has gone up to 21

Death toll in Kashmir reaches 21 and threat persists. Indian Army has called off the rescue operation in Gurez area, where 14 soldiers were trapped to death in the avalanche.

Avalanches, the killer snow have killed 21 people so far in Kashmir. 15 soldiers including an officer have lost their lives in two days in Gurez and Sonmarg areas.

Four civilians were killed in Bandipora when snowstorm hit their homes. In last 48 hours, two other men were swept away by avalanches in Kupwara and Uri.

An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a mountainside and after a heavy snowfall all that is necessary for an avalanche is a slope for it to slide down.

The vast majority of avalanches (90 per cent) occur on slopes with angles between 30 and 45 degrees.

Avalanches can reach speeds of 80 mph within about 5 seconds and can release 2,30,000 cubic meters (300,000 cubic yards) of snow. That is the equivalent of 20 football fields filled 3 meters (10 feet) deep with snow.

Avalanches kill more than 150 people worldwide each year. The snowpack on flatter slopes requires more force to move. Avalanche risk is at its greatest 24 hours following a snowfall of 12 inches or more.

Condition a person can be rescued within 18 minutes, the survival rate is greater than 91 per cent. In 35 minutes the survival rate drops to 34 per cent. The most common causes of death are hypothermia suffocation and wounds.