Sonia condoles death of soldiers in Siachen avalanche

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday expressed deep distress over the death of soldiers in an avalanche on the Siachen glacier.

A Congress statement said Gandhi saluted the soldiers who lost their lives securing the nation's boundaries in the most difficult terrain and weather conditions.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed shock and deep distress on confirmation of death of 10 army men in an avalanche in Siachen," the statement said.

Gandhi extended her condolences to the bereaved families and said the entire nation "stood bowed before selfless service and martyrdom of our soldiers".

Ten soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), went missing on Wednesday after an avalanche hit their patrol at 19,000 feet above sea level on the southern side of the Siachen glacier, which was once the world's highest battlefield, and which has an extremely hostile climate.

A massive rescue operation was launched by the army and the air force to trace the missing personnel but an army official on Thursday said the possibility of any survivor was "remote".