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Siachen avalanche: All 10 missing soldiers declares dead, PM, defence minister condoles

By FnF Defence Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 05, Feb 2016, 11:46 am IST | UPDATED: 05, Feb 2016, 11:46 am IST

Siachen avalanche: All 10 missing soldiers declares dead, PM, defence minister condoles New Delhi: Tragedy befell the Indian army on Thursday when all the 10 soldiers, who had gone missing after avalanche buried their post on the world’s highest battlefield of Siachen, were confirmed dead.

A junior commissioned officer (JCO) and nine other ranks of Madras regiment were swept away by a massive avalanche at the altitude of 19,600 feet on Wednesday.

“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,” said Lieutenant General DS Hooda, General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-in-C) Northern Command.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tributes to the soldiers who died in the line of duty at Siachen glacier. "Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families", he tweeted.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said: "My heartfelt condolences to the near and dear ones of our brave soldiers who were martyred in the line of duty in the most difficult terrain of Siachen. It is our duty to take care of their families."

Indian army said blocks of snow and ice had fallen on the post burying it very deep into the glaciated area. Heavy snow cutters and major equipment have been pressed into service to clear and cut the ice blocks.

The glaciated area presents temperatures ranging from a minimum of minus 42 degrees in the night to maximum of minus 25 degrees during the day.

Indian Army and Air Force have flown specialised teams and equipment to help in the rescue mission on the glacier. Two days on, success eluded the rescuers at the world's highest battlefield prompting the army authorities to finally confirm the death of all the 10 soldiers.

“Operations by specialised teams of the Army and the Air Force have entered the second day today. Specialised equipment was flown in to Leh today morning to further boost the rescue efforts,” said Colonel SD Goswami, defence spokesman at Northern Command headquarters.

Rescue teams are braving adverse weather and effects of rarefied atmosphere to locate and rescue survivors. “It is with deepest of regrets that we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are now very remote,” said Colonel Goswami.

Situated at the eastern tip of Ladakh, Siachen literally means the Land of Wild Roses. Famous as the highest battlefield in the world, Indian Army is holding posts at unimaginable heights across the largest non-polar glacier in the world. Indian Army has lost hundreds of soldiers to weather vagaries, including avalanches and frost bites, in the last 30 years.

Pakistani army suffered humiliating defeat in 1987 when Indian Army led by Honorary Captain Bana Singh captured their “Quaid” post located at 21,153 feet which was later named “Bana” post.

However, for the last 12 years, the 150 kilometer Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) in Siachen, is witnessing calm following the border cease-fire in 2003. Before that the AGPL was a regular battlefield with both armies exchanging artillery and small arms fire to pin each other down.
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