An avalanche killed six jawans of the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Force near the vital Jawahar tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway during the wee hours of Monday.

A senior police officer told rediff.com that the avalanche, triggered by fierce snow blizzards on the Pir Panjal mountain range, buried at least three barracks of the ITBP.

The ITBP and local police managed to rescue five ITBP men in a critical condition. They were taken to hospital.

Sources said three barracks were washed away. "We were forced to continue the rescue operation following snow blizzards in the area. It may trigger another avalanche. It is snowing heavily in the area," said a senior police officer.

The strategic highway has been closed and authorities said scores of vehicles are stranded.

Due to heavy rains and landslides the highway often gets closed during winters.

Heavy snowing in the Kashmir valley has disrupted power and water supplies.