KUPWARA, Dec 28: An Indian trooper was killed after being struck by an avalanche near the Line of Control (LOC) in frontier district of Kupwara, police said on Wednesday.. . .
 Rifleman Inder Bahadur Thapa of 2-Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment was hit by an avalanche in snow-bound Mawar area of Handwara sector, on Monday, the police said.
His colleagues immediately launched a rescue operation and sought reinforcements. However, the soldier had died due to asphyxiation and his body was recovered later, police said. The high altitude areas of Kashmir valley received moderate to heavy snowfall last week.