The Chalamain Gap, site of the avalanche. Photo: Angus CC-BY-SA-2.0

Two people have died after being caught in an avalanche in the Cairngorms.

The man and woman were airlifted to hospital after the incident in the Chalamain Gap this afternoon, but were pronounced dead.

A man who was also flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary from the mountain is in a critical condition.

The three were caught in the avalanche about 12.30pm today in the pass, which connects the CairnGorm ski resort with the Lairig Ghru.

Nine other people in the area at the time were uninjured and were able to walk from the site.

A Northern Constabulary spokesperson said: “No formal identification has been possible at this stage.

“No further information will be issued until formal ID has taken place and all next of kin have been informed.”

Police said it did not have ages for the victims at present.

The body of Graham Connell, 31, of Castleford, West Yorkshire, was found on Monday on Jacob’s Ladder in nearby Coire an t-Sneachda and Jack Wooding of Limehouse, east London, died on the Aladdin’s Mirror route in the same corrie last month.