SRINAGAR (Oct 8) — The Indian Army has lost contact with two of its soldiers from an elite para unit during a combing operation in the Gadool forests of Kokernag, Anantnag district, officials said on Wednesday.
The soldiers went missing on Tuesday night, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation in the area.
According to security sources, the paratroopers were part of an ongoing anti-militancy operation in the dense, snow-covered Gadool forests, which are known for their steep slopes and deep gorges. “The terrain is extremely challenging, and the area saw substantial snowfall on Monday evening,” said an official.
The Gadool forests have been a known militant hideout in the past. In September 2023, a gunfight in the same region claimed the lives of Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish Donchak, and Deputy Superintendent of Police Humayun Muzamil.
Sources added that militants linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba had previously operated from bases in the area.
However, the circumstances under which the two soldiers went missing remain unclear. “Massive reinforcements have been deployed, and every inch of the forest is being combed,” said a senior Army official.