ISLAMABAD, May 27: A Pakistan Army team searching for those trapped by an avalanche in the Gyari sector of Siachen Glacier nearly seven weeks ago has found three bodies, officials said on Sunday.

According to a senior military officer, the bodies were moved to Goma. Talking to Dawn, he said the bodies would be sent to the hometowns by helicopter after they were identified, adding that doctors were trying to establish their identities.

On April 7, a huge wall of snow crashed into the remote Siachen base, burying 139 troops and civilians. Since then hundreds of army personnel with the help of heavy machinery have been working round the clock to find the trapped men.

Several tunnels were dug during the operation and about two weeks ago some belongings of the troops were found.

An army brigadier said the second body which was found on Sunday had been identified as that of Sepoy Rashid, who belonged to Palandri area of Azad Kashmir.

Meanwhile, a source said that another body had been identified as that of Muhammad Hussain. The body was flown to Mr Hussain’s native Upper Shughar Thang village in Skardu where he was buried with full military honours.