Pakistani army says avalanche in northern mountains has killed 4 soldiers; 22 troops rescued

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan's military says an avalanche in the northern mountains has killed four soldiers while 22 others have been rescued after "heroic efforts" by the army.

Wednesday's military statement says the 26 troops came under a huge flow of snow late on Tuesday night near the district of Astore in northern Pakistan.

It says despite extreme weather condition, 22 soldiers were "evacuated through heroic efforts" by rescuers. The military provided no other details.

Avalanches and landslides are common in the region, which has witnessed heavy snowfall in recent months.

In 2012, an avalanche in the Pakistan-controlled part of the Siachen glacier killed 140 people, including 129 soldiers.

Siachen is located on the northern tip of Kashmir, a Himalayan region which is divided between Pakistan and neighboring India.