PESHAWAR, April 5: The bodies of all the 24 security forces personnel who went missing after heavy snowfall and avalanche in Tirah valley in Khyber Agency on Feb 8 have been found after the recovery of the body of Sepoy Wahid Zada of the Frontier Regiment. According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Tuesday, troops manning the Kot Mohammad post at an altitude of 12,500 feet in Tirah valley called for emergency help on Feb 8 after heavy snowfall and torrential rains lashed the area.

A rescue party comprising 31 soldiers of army and Frontier Corps was immediately sent, which on its way to the post was hit by an avalanche near Kot Mohammad Base at the height of 10,400 feet on Feb 10.

Army engineers, Frontier Force Regiment, Special Services Group, Northern Light Infantry, snow expedition parties, volunteers and people of the area took part in the operation to salvage the soldiers with the help of dogs and modern equipment and gadgetries. A base camp was set up at the height of 10,000 feet to administer the situation.

Lama and MI-17 helicopters were placed at the disposal of the rescue teams.

Army aviation succeeded in airlifting 20 soldiers stranded in the snow-bound area on Feb 12 and 13. However, no clue of 10 armymen and 14 Frontier Corps personnel was found till March 28, said the press release.

They recovered the first body on March 29 and within a week all the 24 bodies were retrieved from 12ft to 28ft deep snow at a height of 10,400ft, the press release said.