Siachen Update: Rescue operation underway

The harsh weather do not affect the morale of soldiers searching for their companions in Siachen. The weather continues to be harsh and unfriendly, posing operational and administrative difficulties for both men and machines busy in the rescue operation. The rescue operators have started working on another priority point (Sixth Site) while continuing thier rescue search to the earlier 5 identified points. Massive relief and rescue operation is in progress at Gayari as 15 heavy machines including dumpers, dozers, excavators and loaders are working at the search site. According to the details, at point one, excavating has gone down up to 115 feet. Work will start at 130-feet-long horizontal tunnel with a dia of 3 meters to attain access to the accommodation area while on point two, excavation work has gone down to 100 feet. To access the priority points, a 450-meter-long access track has been developed and is being improved by adding sub grade for traction of wheeled plant equipment on the avalanche. The work on both main access tracks is underway to increase the total length to 1.5 kilometers. Last week, 135 men (124 soldiers and 11 civilians) were buried alive in an avalanche in the Gayari sector of the snowy region. At 21,000 feet, the Siachen glacier is 77 kilometres long, three kilometres wide and is located on the strategic tri-junction between India, China and Pakistan. A ceasefire in 2003 was unable to deter the militaries of India and Pakistan from patrolling the treacherous piece of ice and both countries have been engaged in one of the costliest deployments on either side of the Saltoro Ridge.The weather continues to be harsh and unfriendly, posing operational and administrative difficulties for both men and machines busy in the rescue operation but expectations of workers higher to rescue in any cost.