Heavy snow traps 5 Indian soldiers along Kashmir frontier

Vehicles stand choked on a bridge due to traffic jam caused by snowfall in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir have issued avalanche warnings for many parts of the region, as the heavy snowfall has cut off roads, disrupted power and communication lines, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) (The Associated Press)

A Kashmiri man pushes a cart carrying goods as it snows in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir have issued avalanche warnings for many parts of the region, as the heavy snowfall has cut off roads, disrupted power and communication lines, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) (The Associated Press)

A cyclists rides as it snows in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. Authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir have issued avalanche warnings for many parts of the region, as the heavy snowfall has cut off roads, disrupted power and communication lines, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) (The Associated Press)

The Indian army says five soldiers on patrol have been trapped under snow after a snowy track caved in along the highly militarized Line of Control that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Indian army spokesman Col. Rajesh Kalia said a rescue operation was started immediately after the soldiers disappeared Saturday in the Machil sector of the Himalayan region under India's control.

Two avalanches on Wednesday buried a military post and swept away a patrol in Gurez, burying 21 soldiers, seven of whom were rescued. The bodies of the 14 others were recovered in two days.

Avalanches and landslides are common in Kashmir and have caused some of the heaviest tolls for the Indian and Pakistani armies camped near the Line of Control area.