Avalanche kills 4 Pak soldiers

At least four soldiers were killed when an avalanche struck a base camp in northern Pakistan, the military said on Wednesday. The incident happened in the snow-covered Astore area which falls in the territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, also claimed by India as part of the disputed Kashmir region. "At least 26 soldiers came under a huge snow slide Tuesday night near Astore. Despite extreme weather hazard, 22 soldiers were evacuated through heroic efforts while four soldiers embraced Shahadat (martyrdom)," the military said in a statement. Snow slides in Astore and surrounding areas are common, according to AFP.