Five army men missing as avalanche hits base in Siachen

SKARDU: At least five Pak Army personnel have gone missing after an avalanche hit an army base in world’s highest battle ground Siachen. The Pakistan Army has started a rescue operation in the area with the help of locals. Heavy machinery has also been sent to speed up the rescue operation. However, the army has still not confirmed any casualties.

Ten Indian soldiers were hit by an avalanche at the northern Siachen Glacier in February last year. While another four soldiers were killed by an avalanche in January last year while in the previous year another four died when their vehicle was buried under an avalanche near Leh the main city in the high altitude region known as Ladakh.

Avalanches and landslides are common at the Siachen Glacier during the winter and temperatures there can drop as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.

At least 135 people including 124 servicemen and 11 civilians went missing in 2012 after an avalanche hit them at Gayari sector near Siachen Glacier.