Six Army soldiers killed in Siachen avalanche, one missing

Mangalore Today/ NDTV

Siachen, Dec 16: Six Indian Army soldiers were killed and one is missing in an avalanche that struck the Siachen Glacier early today.

 

The tragedy occurred in Sub-sector Hanif of the glacier around 6 am when troops were moving between posts at 19,000 feet. All six bodies have been pulled out of the snow. A rescue operation is underway to trace the missing soldier.

The Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range of the Himalayas is the world’s highest and coldest battlefield, with both Indian and Pakistani soldiers stationed there.

There have been repeated calls to demilitarise the glacier because of the cost of maintaining troops at those icy heights and the high casualties from hostile weather.

More troops have died on the glacier due to adverse weather than combat. In April, an avalanche killed 139 people at a Pakistan Army camp.

India and Pakistan have held several rounds of talks to end the military stand-off, but without success. Talks were last held in June this year in Rawalpindi, but both sides stuck to their stated positions.

Indian and Pakistani troops have been engaged in the standoff on Siachen since 1984. The guns have largely been silent since late 2003 after a ceasefire.