J&K: Russian skier dead, several trapped as avalanche hits Gulmarg region

One skier died and several skiers were trapped by an avalanche that hit Kashmir's Gulmarg on Thursday.

Authorities had issued an avalance warning for the area after Gulmarg recorded about 5 feet of snowfall.

"So far one skier has died and five have been rescued," Manzoor Ahmad, head of the rescue team, told reporters. However, the authorities are yet to determine the nationality of the skier who died.

According to officials, most of the trapped skiers were foreigners.

Meanwhile, Waseem Raja, CEO of the Gulmarg Development Authority, said

a "massive rescue operation" had been launched to save those trapped.

In February last year, Two Polish skiers died and 19 were rescued after an avalanche swept through the same Gulmarg region.