<p>Srinagar: Three Army personnel, including two Agniveers, were killed on Tuesday after being buried under snow in a major avalanche at the Siachen base camp in Ladakh, the world’s highest battlefield.</p><p>The avalanche reportedly struck the Siachen base camp area in the morning hours, trapping four soldiers of the Mahar regiment under tons of snow. The soldiers, hailing from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, remained trapped for nearly five hours before rescue teams could reach them. Despite intensive efforts, three of them could not be revived.</p><p>An Army captain, who was also caught in the avalanche, was pulled out alive and is recovering, officials said.</p>.J&K rain fury: 12,000 km of road length damaged due to floods, landslides.<p>“The rescue teams faced extremely harsh conditions, including low visibility and sub-zero temperatures, but managed to extricate all personnel,” a source said.</p><p>Situated at an altitude ranging between 18,000 and 22,000 feet, the 76-km-long Siachen Glacier is considered the highest and one of the most inhospitable battlefields in the world. Temperatures often plunge to minus 60 degrees Celsius, and soldiers face constant dangers from avalanches, crevasses, and blizzards. Oxygen levels are also critically low, causing severe strain on the body.</p><p>India has maintained its presence on the glacier since April 1984, when the Army launched Operation Meghdoot to pre-empt Pakistan and occupy the heights. The glacier provides India strategic leverage, allowing it to keep watch on both Pakistan to the west and China to the east.</p><p>Over the years, avalanches and extreme weather have claimed more lives in Siachen than enemy fire. Hundreds of Indian soldiers have died on the glacier since 1984. In one of the worst tragedies, 10 soldiers were buried alive in 2016 when an avalanche struck their post at 19,600 feet.</p><p>Despite the hostile environment, soldiers continue to be deployed in rotation, living in insulated huts and igloo-style shelters. Supplies, including food and fuel, are flown in by helicopters such as the Cheetah and Chinook, as road access remains impossible for most of the year.</p>
<p>Srinagar: Three Army personnel, including two Agniveers, were killed on Tuesday after being buried under snow in a major avalanche at the Siachen base camp in Ladakh, the world’s highest battlefield.</p><p>The avalanche reportedly struck the Siachen base camp area in the morning hours, trapping four soldiers of the Mahar regiment under tons of snow. The soldiers, hailing from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, remained trapped for nearly five hours before rescue teams could reach them. Despite intensive efforts, three of them could not be revived.</p><p>An Army captain, who was also caught in the avalanche, was pulled out alive and is recovering, officials said.</p>.J&K rain fury: 12,000 km of road length damaged due to floods, landslides.<p>“The rescue teams faced extremely harsh conditions, including low visibility and sub-zero temperatures, but managed to extricate all personnel,” a source said.</p><p>Situated at an altitude ranging between 18,000 and 22,000 feet, the 76-km-long Siachen Glacier is considered the highest and one of the most inhospitable battlefields in the world. Temperatures often plunge to minus 60 degrees Celsius, and soldiers face constant dangers from avalanches, crevasses, and blizzards. Oxygen levels are also critically low, causing severe strain on the body.</p><p>India has maintained its presence on the glacier since April 1984, when the Army launched Operation Meghdoot to pre-empt Pakistan and occupy the heights. The glacier provides India strategic leverage, allowing it to keep watch on both Pakistan to the west and China to the east.</p><p>Over the years, avalanches and extreme weather have claimed more lives in Siachen than enemy fire. Hundreds of Indian soldiers have died on the glacier since 1984. In one of the worst tragedies, 10 soldiers were buried alive in 2016 when an avalanche struck their post at 19,600 feet.</p><p>Despite the hostile environment, soldiers continue to be deployed in rotation, living in insulated huts and igloo-style shelters. Supplies, including food and fuel, are flown in by helicopters such as the Cheetah and Chinook, as road access remains impossible for most of the year.</p>