1st LD Writethru: Avalanche buries 10 military troopers in Indian-controlled Kashmir

Ten military troopers, including a junior level officer, were buried on Wednesday after an avalanche hit their post on Siachen Glacier near the Line of Control (LoC) in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The avalanche hit the post during wee hours, trapping troopers underneath the snow.

"In the early hours today, a major avalanche struck an Indian army post in Siachen Glacier located at a height of 19600 feet," Col. N N Joshi, Indian military spokesman said. "The post was manned by Junior Commissioned Officer and nine soldiers."

Authorities have launched rescue operations in the area to trace the missing troopers.

"Specialized teams from army and Air Force are underway to rescue the soldiers," Joshi said. "The rescue operations are being closely monitored from Leh and Udhampur base camps."

Siachen Glacier, considered as the highest battlefield in world, is at an altitude of 7,000 meters above sea level in Ladakh province of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

It is located in eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayan mountains on LoC between India and Pakistan.

Last month, four Indian troopers on routine patrol were killed by an avalanche in the same region.

The glacier's treacherous sub zero climate cost billions of U.S. dollars in military expenditures for India and have counted for scores of lives, more due to frostbite and high altitude sickness than combat action.

There have been calls of demilitarization of the glacier from environmentalists, a demand rejected by New Delhi which occupies major portion of the glacier.

Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered from its mountains during frequent rains and heavy snow in the region. Endit