Three army personnel were killed on Friday when an avalanche struck their post in Machhil sector of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said.

"In an unfortunate incident of avalanche in Machhil sector, the Army lost three valiant soldiers," an army official said.

The bodies of the soldiers have been recovered, the official said.

They have been identified as Havaldar Kamlesh Singh, 39, Naik Balveer, 33, and Sepoy Rajinder, 25.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed deep sorrow over the death of the three soldiers.

The chief minister conveyed her sympathies to the families of dead soldiers, officials said.

With ANI inputs.

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