Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 1: Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag had high level review of situation in Siachen Glacier in Ladakh sector with top Army Commanders and inter-action with Army officers and jawans deployed at the Icy Heights at about 18,875 feet from the sea level, where troops had lost 10 soldiers in an avalanche in February.
Joined by Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen DS Hooda and GOC Leh based 14 Corps Lt Gen SK Patyal, Gen Dalbir Singh had an extensive tour of Siachen Glacier and visited site of avalanche, where 10 Army soldiers were killed on February 10.
Defence spokesperson (Min-istry of Defence) Col SD Goswami said the Army chief commended the soldiers for their outstanding work under extreme difficult terrain and conditions in Siachen and exhorted upon them to be careful to avalanche threats.
He added that Gen Singh returned to New Delhi yesterday evening after day long visit to Siachen Glacier.
Official sources said the Army chief along with Lt Gen Hooda and Lt Gen Patyal held detailed discussions along with local Army Commanders and jawans to know their requirements in the Icy Heights, where temperature dips to several degrees minus and the soldiers have to battle not only the enemy strategy but also the weather conditions to survive and man the country’s borders with Pakistan efficiently.
“In addition to ascertaining requirements of the Army personnel at the Glacier, the Army chief also had review of situation on the fronts with Pakistan. Though not a single bullet has been exchanged between the two Armies (India and Pakistan) at the Glacier for the past several years, India wants to maintain it due to strategic nature,’’ sources said.
After the killings of 220 jawans in snow avalanche at Siachen Glacier last year, Pakistan had proposed demilitarization of the Glacier. However, India had rejected the demand.
Sources said the Army chief had separate meeting with the porters, who work tirelessly to maintain the Army posts at very difficult conditions in Siachen and acquainted himself with problems faced by them.
Army had recently deployed various modern technological equipments for surveillance in Siachen Glacier and also taken series of measures for protection of the soldiers from landslides and other threats.
Sources said the visit of Army chief was further aimed at boosting supply of sophisticated and modern gadgetry for the Army personnel at Siachen Glacier especially the gadgets that had to be imported from other countries. The visit will also boost morale of the jawans, who have been manning the Icy Heights under difficult circumstances but very bravely and boldly despite 10 deaths at the Glacier on February 4 and two deaths at Turtuk, Kargil recently, all in snow avalanche.
Army has been using various modern technological equipments for surveillance in Siachen Glacier including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, different types of radars etc to ensure that there was no breach of the border line at the world’s highest battlefield.
Pointing out that these modern and latest technological equipments were well sophisticated and capable of keeping strict surveillance on the hostile neighbour, sources said some more latest designed weaponry and equipments, which was specially meant for use in the Icy Heights, were also in the pipeline for the troops.
Regarding avalanche threat at the Glacier, which has led to most of the casualties there during the past three decades, sources said the posts in Siachen are sited after due mapping so as to ensure their safety from avalanche threat.
“This is reviewed on a regular basis. On occurrence of the avalanche, a command and control set up is activated at base camp of Siachen to monitor the incident and coordinate induction of rescue team and equipment to the site,’’ sources said.
Rescue equipment like avalanche victim detectors, special mountaineering equipment, ice drilling machines as well as avalanche rescue dogs have been deployed at the Glacier to locate and rescue the victims.
“Keeping in mind the advances in technology for Glaciers, efforts are made to continuously upgrade the equipments for avalanche rescue, mobility and communication to enhance capability for avalanche rescue and survival in glaciated areas,’’ sources said, adding the deployment of latest technology equipments have resulted in saving number of lives of the Army troopers.
According to sources, the soldiers deployed at Siachen Glacier are being provided special winter clothing including extreme cold climate clothing which includes trousers, jackets, gloves, sun glasses etc. to withstand extreme temperatures as per authorization.
“There is constant effort to provide better and more comfortable equipments to the troops based on requirement felt and user feedback,’’ they added.
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