READ AND UNDERSTAND THE COURAGE OF SOLDIERS

Ten soldiers have been buried under snow after their camp in the northern part of the Siachen glacier was hit by a major avalanche (A slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain) on Wednesday. 

According to preliminary information, the avalanche struck the camp located in the northern Siachen Glacier, at a height of 19,600 feet, in the early hours of Wednesday. “The post was manned (Having a crew) by a Junior Commissioned Officer and nine soldiers,” a senior Army officer said. 

Rescue operations by specialised teams of the Army and the Air Force are under way, and are being coordinated from Leh and Udhampur.

 The incident highlights the extreme risks that soldiers face in manning the inhospitable (Unfavorable to life or growth) terrain (A piece of ground having specific characteristics or military potential) at heights of 21,000 feet under extreme weather conditions on the world’s highest battlefield. 

Over the years, India has invested heavily in procuring (Get by special effort) high-quality equipment. The Army has streamlined (Made efficient by stripping off nonessentials) procedures for better acclimatization {Adaptation to a new climate (a new temperature, altitude or environment)}, and this has helped to cut casualties {(military) someone injured, killed, captured or missing in a military engagement}. However, all that is no guarantee against the avalanche of the sort that hit the camp on Wednesday. 

On an average, India spends Rs. 5 crore a day for maintaining troops on the glacier. 

More soldiers have been killed in the Siachen glacier owing to weather than by enemy fire over the years. Over 870 soldiers have lost their lives due to climatic conditions and environmental factors since the Army launched Operation Meghdoot in 1984, pre-empting Pakistan’s attempt to occupy the strategic (Highly important to or an integral part of a strategy or plan of action especially in war) heights. 

The guns fell silent after India and Pakistan declared a ceasefire (A state of peace agreed to between opponents so they can discuss peace terms) along the Line of Control Actual Ground Position Line in November 2003.

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