ProMASS News Bureau: Feb 5, 2016:
Jammu and Kashmir, Army has declared dead its 10 soldiers who were swept away by a massive snow avalanche in Siachen area of Ladakh region on Wednesday morning. Public Relations Officer of Udhampur-based Northern Command, Col S D Goswami said General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt General D S Hooda, expressed grief over the deaths. Lt. Gen. Hooda said it was a tragic event and salute the soldiers who braved all challenges to guard frontiers and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the demise of ten soldiers in Siachen as very tragic. In a tweet, Mr Modi saluted the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Mr Modi also expressed his condolences to the families of the Soldiers.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also has condoled the loss of lives of Indian soldiers at Siachen. Mr Parrikar offered condolences to near and dear ones of the brave soldiers who were martyred in line of duty in most difficult terrain of Siachen. He said, it is the duty of the nation to take care of their families.
Ten soldiers of Army’s 10 Madras Regiment-posted at an altitude of 19600-feet at Glacier Number 1-were hit by a powerful snow avalanche in the early hours of Wednesday.
Col S D Goswami in a statement said that operations by specialized teams of the Army and the Air Force entered the second day. He said specialized equipment was flown in to Leh yesterday morning to further boost the rescue efforts. He added 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.
