Anantnag, Oct 8 (KNS): Two Indian Army soldiers have gone missing during a patrol in the dense Gadol forest area of Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The soldiers lost contact with their unit two days ago, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

A senior police officer stated that the soldiers were part of a patrol team operating in the forested region, known for its challenging terrain and history of militancy. Efforts to establish communication with the missing soldiers have so far been unsuccessful.

Security forces have launched a massive search operation to trace them, but the mission is being hampered by inclement weather, including snowfall and poor visibility in the region. "The weather has been extremely uncooperative, which has significantly delayed progress in the search," the officer added.

Authorities have not yet confirmed if militant activity is behind the disappearance.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHowever, the area is known for its volatile security situation. In recent years, Gadol forest has witnessed several major encounters between security forces and terrorists. Last year, a fierce gunfight in the same area claimed the lives of two Army personnel and a civilian. In another deadly encounter two years ago, five security personnel—including a commanding officer, a Major, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police—were martyred in action.

The disappearance has raised serious concerns, given the strategic sensitivity of the region and its proximity to areas frequently used by terrorists as hideouts. The Army, in coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and other security agencies, continues to comb the area using drones and sniffer dogs.(KNS)