Soldier missing, another critical after avalanche hits Siachen glacier

A soldier went missing on Friday after an avalanche hit an Indian Army patrol party on the Siachen glacier in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said.

A soldier went missing on Friday after an avalanche hit an Indian Army patrol party on the Siachen glacier in Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, an official said.

The incident comes after 10 soldiers had died in an avalanche at the Siachen glacier last month.

Army spokesperson NN Joshi told Hindustan Times the avalanche struck between 7.30am and 8am. “One of the two soldiers has been rescued but his condition remains critical. Search operations are on for the other soldier.”

An avalanche struck an army outpost in the Kargil sector last week, killing a soldier. His body was recovered from under 12 feet of snow.

A ‘medium danger’ avalanche warning had earlier been issued for higher areas of Jammu and Kashmir, advising people not to venture out.

The advisory, issued by Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) which comes under the defence ministry, will remain effective over the next 24 hours beginning 5pm on Friday.

Ten soldiers had died after being buried in an avalanche in Siachen last month. Lance Naik Hanamanthapa, who was found buried alive under 25 feet of ice, died at the Army RR hospital in New Delhi, four days after his rescue.

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