"Two civilians, who were working as Beacon (Border Roads Organisation) labourers, came under an avalanche during snow clearance operation at Khooni Nallah near Sadhna Pass," he said.
The official said rescue teams swung into action and pulled out the duo who were buried under a huge mound of snow. However, both succumbed during treatment at a hospital, he said.
The divisional administration had yesterday issued a medium danger avalanche warning for areas above 3,000m in Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal and Kargil districts of the state.
Meanwhile, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief and shock over the loss of the human lives in the incident.
Sharing her grief over the untimely death of two people, Mehbooba Mufti has expressed her sympathies with bereaved families, a PDP spokesman said.
He said Mehbooba prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and urged the government to provide ex-gratia relief to the families of the deceased.