Search for 117 buried soldiers
Source: Agencies |
April 8, 2012, Sunday
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PAKISTANI soldiers dug into a massive avalanche in a mountain battleground close to the Indian border yesterday, searching for at least 117 of their colleagues buried when the wall of snow engulfed a military complex.
More than 12 hours after the disaster at the entrance to the Siachen Glacier, no survivors had been found.
"We are waiting for news and keeping our fingers crossed," said army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas.
Hundreds of troops, sniffer dogs and mechanical equipment were at the scene, but were struggling to make much headway into the avalanche, which crashed down onto the rear headquarters building in the Gayari sector early in the morning, burying it under some 21 meters of snow, said Abbas. "It's on a massive scale," he said. "Everything is completely covered."
Siachen is on the northern tip of the divided Kashmir region claimed by India and Pakistan.
Thousands of troops from both nations stationed there brave viciously cold temperatures, altitude sickness, high winds and isolation for months at a time.
Troops have been deployed at elevations of up to 6,700 meters and have skirmished intermittently since 1984, though the area has been quiet since a cease-fire in 2003. It is known as the world's highest battlefield.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his shock at the incident, which he said "would in no way undermine the high morale of soldiers and officers."
The headquarters in Gayari, situated at around 4,572 meters, is the main gateway through which troops and supplies pass on to other more remote outposts. It is situated in a valley between two mountains, close to a military hospital, according to an officer stationed there in 2003.
"I can't comprehend how an avalanche reached there," said the officer, who asked not to be named. "It was supposed to be safe."
More soldiers have died from the weather than combat on the Siachen Glacier.
More than 12 hours after the disaster at the entrance to the Siachen Glacier, no survivors had been found.
"We are waiting for news and keeping our fingers crossed," said army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas.
Hundreds of troops, sniffer dogs and mechanical equipment were at the scene, but were struggling to make much headway into the avalanche, which crashed down onto the rear headquarters building in the Gayari sector early in the morning, burying it under some 21 meters of snow, said Abbas. "It's on a massive scale," he said. "Everything is completely covered."
Siachen is on the northern tip of the divided Kashmir region claimed by India and Pakistan.
Thousands of troops from both nations stationed there brave viciously cold temperatures, altitude sickness, high winds and isolation for months at a time.
Troops have been deployed at elevations of up to 6,700 meters and have skirmished intermittently since 1984, though the area has been quiet since a cease-fire in 2003. It is known as the world's highest battlefield.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed his shock at the incident, which he said "would in no way undermine the high morale of soldiers and officers."
The headquarters in Gayari, situated at around 4,572 meters, is the main gateway through which troops and supplies pass on to other more remote outposts. It is situated in a valley between two mountains, close to a military hospital, according to an officer stationed there in 2003.
"I can't comprehend how an avalanche reached there," said the officer, who asked not to be named. "It was supposed to be safe."
More soldiers have died from the weather than combat on the Siachen Glacier.
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