JCO among 10 soldiers dead in Siachen avalanche

A view of rescue operation at Siachen Glacier on Thursday.
A view of rescue operation at Siachen Glacier on Thursday.

Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 4: Army today declared dead all the 10 soldiers who were trapped under an avalanche in Siachen Glacier since yesterday morning even as specialized equipment was airlifted to boost the rescue efforts.
Army Commander, Northern Command, Lt General DS Hooda, while expressing grief over the tragic incident said: “It is a tragic event and we salute the soldiers who braved all challenges to guard our frontiers and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty”.
Earlier, a Defence Ministry spokesman said: “However, it is with deepest of regrets that we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are now very remote.”
Ten soldiers including a JCO of an Army Post held by 19 Madras Regiment located at an altitude of 19600 feet on Siachen Glacier were hit by a massive avalanche early yesterday.
A major rescue operation was launched by specialized teams of the Army and the Air Force yesterday and the operation continued today.
Army also airlifted specialized equipment into Leh this morning to boost the rescue efforts. The glaciated area presents temperatures ranging from a minimum of minus 42 degree Celsius in the night to maximum of minus 25 degrees during the day.
The rescue teams are braving adverse weather and effects of rarified atmosphere to locate and rescue survivors.
This the second avalanche this year that led to death of soldiers at Siachen Glacier. Last month four soldiers of 3 Ladakh Scouts were killed when their patrol party was hit by a snow avalanche at the Southern Glacier on January 3 while they were performing the regular task and the patrol came under an avalanche.
Siachen is the world’s highest active battlefield, contested by India and Pakistan since 1984 when India launched Operation Meghdoot. In April 1984, the Indian Army moved in to pre-empt a move by the Pakistan army to occupy the Glacier. Indian Army currently occupies the full Siachen Glacier, while Pakistani forces are deployed at the lower heights of Saltoro ridge.
So far Army has lost around 900 soldiers to avalanches and adverse weather conditions in Siachen Glacier area. The worst avalanche tragedy at Siachen took place in 2007 when 130 Pakistani soldiers died when their camp was hit by an avalanche.
Governor N N Vohra expressed shock over the avalanche tragedy at Siachen Glacier. A Raj Bhawan spokesperson said Vohra spoke to Northern Army Commander Lt General D S Hooda to convey his heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families over the tragic loss. He lauded the brave officers and men of Army who serve in the most difficult areas, brave all odds and even give away their lives for safeguarding national security.

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