Agencies
New Delhi, Nov 18: Eight soldiers are believed trapped under an avalanche that hit Siachen Glacier on Monday, sources said.
A news report said that an avalanche hit army positions on the glacier at 3.30 pm. Details of the incident are still sketchy. Rescue operations are believed to be underway.
The average altitude in the area is 20,000 feet and day time temperatures are minus 20 degrees Celsius. Indian troops had occupied the glacier in 1984 after fears that Pakistan Army was trying the same. A 109-km long divide between India and Pakistan is called the actual ground position line (AGPL). The area has no loose snow, and an avalanche at that height occurs when ice blocks move down from the heights. The world's highest battlefreld, Siachen Glacier was previously part of the united state of Jammu and Kashmir and is now in the Union Territory of Ladakh. |
