Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 3: A dea-dly avalanche swept away an Army post in Northern Siachen Glacier in Ladakh region this morning trapping 10 Army men including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO). A massive rescue operation has been launched by the Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) in the area for the trapped Army men.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Colonel N N Joshi told Excelsior that a major avalanche struck the Army post trapping 10 soldiers early today. “In the early hours of today, a major avalanche struck an Indian Army post in Northern Siachen Glacier located at a height of 19600 feet. The post was manned by one Junior Commissioned Officer and nine soldiers”, he said.
Joshi said a rescue operation has been launched by Army’s avalanche rescue team and Indian Air Force. “Rescue operations by specialised teams from Army and Air Force are underway to rescue the soldiers. The rescue operations are being closely monitored from Leh and Udhampur”, he said.
The IAF helicopters and avalanche rescue team of the Army immediately reached the spot to rescue the trapped Army men. However, so far they had no success. These soldiers belong to Madras Regiment of the Army and chances of their survival seem to be bleak.
This is the second avalanche that struck this year in Siachen and trapped or killed Army men. One month ago, on January 3, four Army personnel were killed after their patrol party was hit by an avalanche at Siachen Glacier of Ladakh Division.
Last year in April, four Army personnel were killed when an avalanche struck in Chang La area of Siachen where they were performing their duty.
On November 15 last year, an Army Captain Ashwani Kumar was killed while 15 Army men were rescued when avalanche hit an Army post at Siachen Glacier.
Both Indian and Pakistani troops are suffering heavy casualties at Siachen due to avalanches every year. The worst tragedy took place on April 7, 2012, when 130 Pakistani soldiers were buried alive at Siachen Glacier.
Since 1984, around 900 soldiers died here due to adverse weather conditions and freezing temperatures which go down to minus 50 degree Celsius. More soldiers of the two countries have died here due to hostile weather and attitude than actual war and border skirmishes.
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