At Siachen Glacier, hostile weather takes heavy toll on Army men

Jammu, December 6

The world’s highest battlefield, the Siachen Glacier, is not just tough but also dangerous for soldiers due to hostile weather conditions and avalanches. In the past two weeks alone, six soldiers and two civilian porters were killed in avalanches.

Two Army personnel were killed after an avalanche hit their patrol at an altitude of about 18,000 feet in southern Siachen Glacier in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Saturday morning.

“An Army patrol operating at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet in southern Siachen Glacier was hit by an avalanche during the early hours of Saturday. An Avalanche Rescue Team following the patrol immediately rushed and managed to locate and pull out all members of the patrol. Simultaneously, Army helicopters were pressed into service to evacuate the avalanche victims,” an Army spokesperson said.

Despite efforts by medical teams, two Army personnel succumbed in the avalanche, identified as Naib Subedar Tsewang Gialshan, a resident of Chemray village of Leh and Rifleman Padma Norgais, a resident of Tangtse of Leh.

On November 18, four soldiers and two civilian porters were killed in an avalanche in Siachen Glacier. In the last 10 years, the Army has lost over 165 personnel deployed at the Siachen Glacier. — OC