Over 100 soldiers trapped in Siachen; rescue operation underway to retrieve bodies
Skardu, RAWALPINDI, (SANA): Pakistan Army is continuing its rescue operation to retrieve over 100 soldiers hit by a massive avalanche in the Gayari sector near Skardu here on early Saturday morning.
According to private TV channel at least 150 army personnel including Battalion Commander trapped in a military camp in Siachen Ghiari sector after a massive avalanche fell on the battalion headquarter on Saturday morning.
According to ISPR Spokesman 100 army personnel including a colonel have been trapped and rescue operation is underway.
Director General ISPR Major General Athar Abbass said over one hundred soldiers on ground, five helicopters and sniffing dogs are taking part in the rescue operation. The avalanche struck the military base in the early morning, burying about one hundred soldiers.
Athar Abbass said so far no body has been recovered. He said it was a massive snow slide and completion of the rescue operation will take time.
According to details, the snow hit a battalion headquarters in the Gayari sector at 5:45 a.m. The death toll was not immediately known. Officials said rescue efforts were underway with tracking dogs, helicopters and snowmobiles.
"It is feared that maybe it will become one of the major incidents" of weather-related disasters in the remote, frigid region, Abbas said.
That part of the disputed Kashmir region is often called the world's highest battlefield. Hundreds of Pakistani and Indian troops are based at elevations of up to 22,000 feet.
Siachen, at about 18,000 feet, sits at northern tip of Kashmir, which both India and Pakistan claim as their territory.
More soldiers have died because of harsh weather at the Pakistani outpost than in combat.
India and Pakistan have fought intermittently at Siachen since 1984. Both countries maintain a permanent military presence there. A cease-fire went into effect in 2003.
Before then, more than 2,000 Pakistani and Indian troops died in the inhospitable terrain, mostly because of avalanches, frostbite and other weather hazards.
Ends-SANA-ZS
http://www.sananews.net/english/over-100-soldiers-trapped-in-siachen-rescue-operation-underway-to-retrieve-bodies/
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