Srinagar, Jan 31: In a grievous loss to the Indian army, five more soldiers lost their lives as a result of the avalanche which hit Macchail sector two days back on January 28 around the Kupwara Machail sector.

The total death toll has increased to 20 now with 15 soldiers who perished a few days before the second avalance hit the higher reaches of the valley as a result of very heavy snowfall.  

The soldiers were successfully rescued from the snow but succumbed to hypothermia despite the doctors at the Srinagar Base hospital trying their best to revive them. Their bodies are expected to be brought to New Delhi on Tuesday as stated by the defense spokesperson.

 15 Corps spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia expressed grief in a statement commenting that, "Unfortunately, all the brave hearts have succumbed to their injuries while being shifted to hospital in Srinagar," he said, adding all five belonged to 56 Rashtriya Rifles.
 
Out of the five, Naik Ramchandra Shamrao Mane, 33, Sepoy Ganesh Kisan Dhavale, 30, Sepoy Balaji Bhagwanrao Ambore, 26, hailed from Maharastra whereas Gunner Kannan M Thamothara, 27, was from Tamil Nadu's Madurai, and Signalman Deva Haza Bhai Parmar, 27, from Gujarat's Bhavnagar.
 
A wreath-laying ceremony will take place here on Tuesday morning before the bodies reach Delhi later during the day from where they will be flown to their native places for last rites. The bodies will be flown on Indian Air Force aircraft to the airports nearest to their native place. From the airport concerned, further transportation by helicopters are being planned wherever feasible, an official said.
 
The mortal remains of 14 soldiers who were killed in an avalanche in Gurez but could not be evacuated earlier because of the weather, were also brought to Srinagar on Monday in Indian Air Force helicopters.
 
The incidents happened when the troops were undertaking patrolling in areas which have turned into hotbeds for terrorism off late and the inclement weather conditions added to the risk of being in the open. Helicopters could not operate due to thick fog, snowfall and high turbulance. The weather department has issued an avalance warning in the higher allitude regions across the valley and urged people to take all precautions. 

In a seperate incident just a few days back an avalanches buried a military post and swept away a patrol on Wednesday night in Gurez, burying a total of 21 soldiers, out of which seven soldiers were rescued even as one army Major was killed in Ganderbal district.