Siachen avalanche: Chances of finding survivors 'remote', says Defence Ministry

Ten soldiers of an Army Post located were hit by a massive avalanche in the early hours of Wednesday

Amid massive operation undertaken by the armed forces to rescue soldiers trapped under snow due to yesterday's avalanche near Siachen Glacier in Ladakh, the Defence Ministry on Thursday said that chances of finding any survivors are remote even as the search operation entered its second day.

Specialized teams of the Army and the Air Force have been deployed to carry out the search and rescue operations in the area, where temperatures range from minus 42 degrees in the night to minus 25 degrees during the day.

Specialised equipment has also been flown in to Leh today morning to further boost the rescue efforts.

"The glaciated area presents temperatures ranging from a minimum of minus 42 degrees in the night to maximum of minus 25 degrees during the day. Rescue teams are braving adverse weather and effects of rarified atmosphere to locate and rescue survivors," said an official statement issued by the Defence Ministry.

"However, it is with deepest of regrets that we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are now very remote," it added.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General DS Hooda, Army Commander, Northern Command, has expressed his grief over the tragic incident.

"It is a tragic event and we salute the soldiers who braved all challenges to guard our frontiers and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," he said.

The avalanche struck an Indian Army post in the Northern Siachen Glacierat a height of 19,600 feet.

The army post that faced its brunt was manned by one junior commissioned officer (JCO) and nine soldiers.All ten soldiers have gone missing after the avalanche.