An avalanche smashed into a Pakistan Army camp on Saturday, burying at least 124 soldiers and 11 civilian defence personnel some 80 feet under the snow on the world’s highest battleground, with no sign of survivors over 12 hours later. Troops with sniffer dogs, aided by helicopters, were frantically trying to find signs of life in the deep snow after the avalanche engulfed the camp in mountainous Gayari, Siachen, in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.
A team of doctors and paramedics also rushed to the high-altitude militarised region, which is close to the de facto border with India and where temperatures plummet to minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94F). A press release issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) late on Saturday said 135 men were missing in the avalanche. Earlier, Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas had told AFP that “more than 100 soldiers of NLI (Northern Light Infantry) including a colonel were trapped when the avalanche hit a military camp.” He later added that despite hours of searching and contrary to local media reports, no bodies or survivors had been found.
“It’s too early to say anything,” he replied when asked about the chances of finding anyone alive after more than 12 hours. “The rescue operation is under way,” he added.
The avalanche struck early in the morning, a military statement said, raising the possibility that the buried soldiers were asleep at the time.
India in 1984 occupied the key areas on the Siachen glacier, including the heights, and Pakistan immediately responded by deploying its own forces. They fought a fierce battle in 1987, raising fears of all-out conflict.
The glacier is over 6,300 metres (20,800 feet) high, but despite its limited strategic importance both countries have spent heavily to keep a military presence there.
India reportedly forks out more than 40 million rupees ($800,000) daily on its Siachen deployment — a figure that does not include additional wages and bonuses.
Experts have previously said that India has around 5,000 troops on the glacier, while Pakistan has less than half that number. The harsh weather and the altitude claim many more lives than actual fighting. State-run Pakistan Television (PTV) said rescuers were facing difficulties getting heavy machinery to the far-flung and deeply inhospitable area. It added that the soldiers were buried under 80 feet of snow. President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani expressed their deep shock at the potentially heavy loss of life. “The incident in no way would undermine the high morale of soldiers and officers,” Gilani said in a statement. Avalanches and landslides frequently block roads and leave communities isolated in the mountains of Pakistan, neighbouring Afghanistan and in Kashmir. In February, at least 16 Indian soldiers on duty in the mountains of Indian-held Kashmir were killed when two avalanches swept through army camps.
INNA LILLHE WA INNA ELAIHE RAJEOON.HEARTFELTY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF GREAT AND AZEEM SHOHADAA.MAY ALLHA TAALA KEEP THEM PLACES IN HEAVEN AAMEEN.WE REMEMBER THEIR SACRIFIECS WITH GREAT RESPECT AND HONOUR.
THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MUST OBSERVE NATIONAL MOURNING FOR 3 DAYS.COMPLETE QURAN KHAWANI AND DUAS MUST BE ARRANGED TO THE DEPARTED SOULS.
i pray for all these soldiers,,,,,,,long live pakistan and pakistan army
What terrible news! 🙁
terrible news
GREAT SHAHEEDS.THE PROMISED ,JANAT.MAY ALLAH ELEFVATE THEM MOST AND BE HAMI O NASIR OF OUR GREAT PAK ARMY.
Very sad news. My heart goes for the family members of our soldiers. I hope there would be some survivors.
My thoughts are with them
They are Shaheeds, Those survived are Ghazis
Very very sad.
We are standing with our army at this hour of grief and tragedy.
Allah in shaheedon kay sadqay Pakistan ko salamat rakhey. Ameen!
Very tragic incident. Our hearts bleed.
Let us wait for the details, may be they are safe.Let us pray for their safety instead of offering fateha.We salute to our brave soldiers who are laying down their lives for the sake of this country
Aye Allah tu sab ko Ifzo amaan main rakh including my younger brother..AAMEEEEEN … Guys plzz plzz pray .. he is totally out of contact
Somebody's father, somebody's son, somebody's husband,
somebody's brother, somebody's friend…
Salute to the fallen.
Condolences to the family…
INNA LILLHE WA INNA ELAIHE RAJEOON
May their souls rest in eternal peace. Very sad and tragic. it is indeed a great loss.
I am an Indian & offer my condolence to the families of bereaved families.I feel bad about this because these men need not have been there if their govt follows sensible policies & reaches agreement on at least the siachin issue.May be this will awaken them.
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