Avalanches and extreme cold in India’s portion of Kashmir have killed 168 people and left at least 212 others missing.

An avalanche killed at least 24 people early today when it struck a tiny mountain village in India’s portion of Kashmir while most of its residents slept, sweeping away dozens of houses and leaving scores of people missing, officials said.

Eight shepherds in Indian Kashmir were today gunned down in their homes by suspected Islamic militants, police said.