A senior Army officer lost his life while 15 soldiers were rescued after an avalanche struck a patrol party in Siachen Glacier area in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
Udhampur-based Defence spokesman Colonel S D Goswami said on Saturday that a patrol party of army came under an avalanche in southern area of Siachen glacier on Friday.
“Captain Ashwini Kumar sacrificed his life when his patrol came under an avalanche in Siachen Glacier in the wee hours of November 13,” he said and added a rescue operation was launched immediately and 15 soldiers were saved.
The mortal remains of the slain officer from 3 Ladakh Scouts, have been sent to Patiala, his native place, Goswami said.
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda expressed deep condolences on the loss of the officer.
On December 16, 2012, at least six Army soldiers were killed when a similar avalanche hit Hanif sub sector in Turtuk area of Siachen.
In 2011, an avalanche had hit a Pakistani Army camp in the glacier area, killing over 100 troops.
Siachen is regarded as the world’s highest battlefield where the Indian and Pakistan Army face each other in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation.