Two Army Paratroopers Missing in Kokernag Operation Found Dead in Snow

According to information received from army sources, the bodies, backpacks and weapons of two soldiers were removed from the dangerous, snow-covered hills of the region where heavy snowfall has occurred recently.

The Indian Army and other officials are yet to officially release the names of the two paratroopers. Reports indicate that they were elite commandos, specifically Agniveers, belonging to the 5 Para (Special Forces) or possibly the 7 Para (Special Forces) unit, and their identities are referenced solely by their unit allegiance.

Initial assessments suggest the soldiers may have succumbed to extreme weather conditions, possibly being caught in a heavy snowstorm or hit by an avalanche. Difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions are believed to have contributed to their deaths.

Sources confirmed that the first soldier’s body was found on Thursday, while the second soldier’s body was found early Friday morning. Both were found in Kokernag’s Ahlan Gadole forest area after a five-day intensive search operation conducted in the dense forests and rugged terrain of the area.

Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, had earlier shared details of the incident in a post on ‘X’. The post explained that an operational team deployed in Kishtwar district encountered severe blizzard and whiteout conditions in the mountains of South Kashmir on the night of October 6-7. Meanwhile, the two soldiers were cut off from communication with their units. The Corps noted that emergency search and rescue operations were launched, but efforts were significantly hampered by adverse weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and poor visibility.

According to Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police sources, the paratroopers were part of a small team conducting a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the upper reaches of Kokernag as part of the ongoing counter-terrorism mission. While on duty, soldiers lost communication with their units, likely due to extreme weather conditions such as heavy snowfall, low visibility, and the difficult terrain in the area. Authorities suspect these factors may have caused the soldiers to separate from their teams.

Upon the notice of the missing personnel, a large-scale search and rescue operation was immediately launched. The operation involved coordinated efforts of Army personnel, Jammu and Kashmir Police, other security forces and local officials. Teams scoured the dense jungle area and helicopters were deployed to help ground troops advance through difficult terrain. The rugged terrain, combined with ongoing adverse weather conditions, posed significant challenges to the search effort.

On Wednesday, authorities reported that efforts were intensified to locate and safely rescue the missing soldiers. The operation involved meticulous coordination to cover the vast and rugged terrain of the Ahlan Gadole forest area. Authorities also called on local residents to cooperate with search teams and exercise caution when moving in the area due to ongoing operations and dangerous conditions.

Meanwhile, there was no official response from the authorities regarding a recent post about ‘X’, which appears to have come from an account possibly linked to militants or their sympathizers. In the post, it was claimed that 4 soldiers were killed in the attack in Kishtwar hills on September 21, and the attackers seized a weapon from the killed soldiers. The military and other authorities have yet to address or verify these allegations.