Blizzard Claims Two Brave Lives | Kokernag Search Operation Concludes with Second Body Found
By: Javid Amin | 10 October 2025
End of a Four-Day Ordeal
In a tragic conclusion to an intense four-day search and rescue mission, the Indian Army on Friday recovered the body of the second missing paratrooper from the snowbound Ahlan Gadol forest in Kokernag, South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Both soldiers from the elite 5 Para (Special Forces) unit went missing on October 6, during a counter-terrorism operation in the high-altitude region battered by fierce blizzards and sub-zero temperatures.
The recovery brings closure to a mission that tested the limits of endurance, coordination, and courage — yet again underlining the deadly challenges faced by soldiers operating in the hostile Himalayan frontier.
The Incident: Mission Amid a Blizzard
The two paratroopers were part of an anti-militancy combing operation in the Ahlan Gadol forest belt, a rugged, densely forested, and snow-prone sector lying between Kokernag and Daksum — an area known for both militant infiltration routes and extreme weather fluctuations.
According to defence sources, contact with the two soldiers was lost on the evening of October 6, shortly after a sudden blizzard swept through the sector, disrupting visibility and radio communication.
For four harrowing days, Army, CRPF, and J&K Police teams worked through knee-deep snow, avalanches, and freezing winds to trace their comrades. Drones, snow scooters, and sniffer dogs were deployed in one of the toughest terrain operations the Army has faced in recent memory.
The body of the first soldier was recovered on October 9, while the second was found on October 10, a few hundred meters away in an icy gully partially buried under snow.
Extreme Weather, Unforgiving Terrain
Officials said the region experienced a sudden whiteout, with wind speeds exceeding 70 km/h and temperatures dropping well below –10°C, turning routine movement into a death trap.
“They were caught in a blinding blizzard during the operation. Despite all survival protocols, the combination of low visibility, wind chill, and snow accumulation made survival nearly impossible,”
— Army officer part of the rescue team, speaking anonymously.
Initial reports suggest hypothermia and avalanche exposure as likely causes of death. Both soldiers were recovered with their weapons and gear intact, indicating they continued to hold position and maintain combat readiness until the final moments.
Nation Mourns: Tributes and Military Honors
The Indian Army has paid solemn tribute to the fallen paratroopers, describing them as “embodiments of valor, resilience, and unwavering duty.” Their bodies were transported to the Badamibagh Cantonment in Srinagar for a wreath-laying ceremony attended by senior Army and police officials, before being sent to their native places with full military honors.
“They laid down their lives in the line of duty, protecting the sovereignty of the nation under the harshest of conditions. The nation stands indebted to their sacrifice,”
— Northern Command spokesperson, Indian Army.
Social media was flooded with messages of grief and respect from citizens, veterans, and political leaders across the country, with many calling the soldiers “true guardians of the Himalayas.”
Operation Ahlan Gadol: Anatomy of a Search Mission
Operation Type: Counter-Terror / Area Domination
Location: Ahlan Gadol Forest, Kokernag, South Kashmir
Terrain: High-altitude, snow-clad, forested ridges
Weather: Blizzard, whiteout, sub-zero conditions
Forces Deployed:
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5 Para (Special Forces)
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Rashtriya Rifles units
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CRPF Quick Reaction Teams
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J&K Police Search Units
Duration: 4 days (Oct 6–10, 2025)
The operation was launched following intelligence inputs of suspected militant movement through high-altitude routes between Kokernag and Qazigund sectors. The 5 Para unit, known for its mountain warfare expertise, was tasked with combing the snowbound ridgelines when the blizzard hit.
The Army’s avalanche rescue teams (AVRTs) from Gulmarg and Pahalgam were airlifted to assist, but the weather hampered helicopter operations for nearly 48 hours.
Lessons from the Tragedy: High-Altitude Warfare Risks
The Kokernag tragedy once again exposes the brutal intersection of weather and warfare in Kashmir’s mountains — where soldiers must fight both terror and terrain.
Experts note that unpredictable climate shifts in the Himalayas are increasingly jeopardizing military operations.
“Even highly trained commandos with top gear face enormous challenges when the weather turns hostile. The human body’s endurance limit is quickly reached in these conditions,”
— Lt. Gen. (Retd.) D. S. Hooda, former Northern Army Commander.
He added that enhanced real-time weather intelligence, improved winterized gear, and remote surveillance capabilities are essential to prevent such losses.
Broader Context: Rising Operational Hazards in Kashmir
This incident marks the third major weather-related loss in Kashmir’s high-altitude zones this year alone. Earlier in January, three soldiers were killed in Machil (Kupwara) after being swept away by an avalanche, while in February, two porters died near the LoC in Tangdhar due to sudden snowstorms.
With the onset of early winter, the Kashmir Valley’s upper reaches often experience abrupt weather transitions. Military experts warn that climate unpredictability is intensifying due to global warming, making missions riskier than ever.
Human Side of Heroism
Local residents in Kokernag reported seeing rescue teams working “day and night in biting cold” to recover the missing soldiers. Villagers offered help by carrying supplies, clearing trails, and lighting fires for warmth.
“We saw them climbing ice-covered slopes with ropes, searching inch by inch. Their courage moved us deeply,”
— Mohammad Yousuf, a local shepherd from Ahlan Gadol.
Such accounts remind us that soldiers are not only fighters but survivors, facing not just bullets but blizzards, not just enemies but nature’s extremes.
🕯️ In Memoriam
“They went where others feared to go — and did what others dared not do.”
— Motto of the Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), Indian Army
Bottom-Line: Valor Beyond Weather and War
The recovery of the second missing soldier closes one of the most grueling rescue operations the Valley has witnessed in recent times. It is a somber reminder that peace and security in Kashmir are maintained at immense human cost — often unseen, fought in silence against both enemies and elements.
As the nation mourns its bravehearts, the incident reinforces an urgent truth:
even the strongest warriors can fall to the fury of the mountains — but never to fear.
Their courage will forever echo in the icy winds of Kokernag.
