An Indian Army truck travels towards the avalanche site in Tangmarg in Kashmir yesterday. Seventeen Indian soldiers were killed in an avalanche that slammed into a group of 70 combat troops at a high-altitude warfare training camp in Kashmir. Photo: AFP

A massive avalanche ploughed into an Indian army training centre at a ski resort town in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Monday, killing 17 soldiers and critically injuring 17 others.

The avalanche slammed into the army's High Altitude Warfare School at about 11 a.m. and swept away the soldiers during a training session, said army spokesman Col. Vineet Sood. It was the worst avalanche in the area in many years, he said.

Seventeen bodies were found and 53 troops were rescued about six hours after the speeding mass of snow and ice struck the centre high on a Himalayan slope, senior police officer Qayoom Manhas told The Associated Press.

Manhas said of those rescued, 17 needed emergency medical care.

About 70 troops were taking a skiing test when the avalanche came crashing down, he said.

Rescue efforts involving army, police and civilian officials were "very timely, swift and coordinated," Manhas said.