Indian skiers dedicate effort to colleagues in Kashmir

The Olympic preparations of Indian skiers Jamyang Namgial and Tashi Lundup have been thrown into turmoil after an avalanche back home in Kashmir this week killed 17 of their army colleagues.

Namgial and Lundup are in the same High Altitude Warfare School as the combat troops that died on Monday in an avalanche that slammed into them at a training camp in Gulmarg, the Vancouver Sun reported.

"We found out by reading it on the Internet," Shabir Wani, Lundup's cross-country skiing coach, told the newspaper. "It was shocking. We come from the same area. We're very sad."

The High Altitude Warfare School houses around 450 troops.

While its main facility was not affected, the avalanche swept away one of four sub-camps used for training operations.

Heavy snowfall and high winds hampered rescue operations and made communications difficult at the site in Gulmarg, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Srinagar, the Kashmiri summer capital.

Wani said he was still waiting to learn the names of the 17 dead.

Lundup is due to compete in the 15-kilometre cross-country freestyle event on Monday while Namgial races in the giant slalom on February 21.

"We want to dedicate our efforts to the people of Gulmarg," said Lundup.

India only has three members on its Olympics team, with luger Shiva Kesavan their best hope of a medal.

India has not had any success at the Winter Games since it began competing in them in 1964.