Avalanche strikes army post in Siachen, rescue operations on

The soldiers were hit while on duty at a post on the glacier at an altitude of 19,000 feet, Colonel S.D. Goswami said. “The rescue operations are being closely monitored from Leh and Udhampur”, the statement added.

“They belong to Madras Regiment of the army and are believed to be trapped under avalanche”.

Ten soldiers went missing after an avalanche hit an Army base in the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh.

As both India and Pakistan claim it, this stretch of snow is called the world’s highest battlefield.

Army and IAF helicopters, including Cheetah, Dhruv and Mi-17, have been deployed for rescue mission at the post, which is at a height of 19,600 feet. On November 13 past year, an avalanche left an army captain dead. “It is not easy to conduct search operations in harsh weather areas like Siachen where the temperatures drop to sub-30 degrees, but we will not rest”.

The avalanche took place at the glacier which makes the tri-junction of India, China and Pakistan. These deaths have mostly been on account of avalanches, landslides, frostbite, altitude sickness or heart failure.

Four soldiers belonging to 3-Ladakh Scouts unit were killed when a massive avalanche hit their patrolling party at the glacier on January 4.