10 troopers hit by avalanche in Indian-controlled Kashmir feared dead

Indian military Thursday said there was little chance of finding survivors among the 10 troopers buried under avalanche on Siachen Glacier near Line of Control (LoC) in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"It is with deepest of regrets that we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are now very remote," Indian military spokesman Col N N Joshi said.

An avalanche hit a military post located at a height of 19,600 feet (5,974 meters) early Wednesday, burring alive at least ten troopers including a junior-level officer.

Following the avalanche, military pressed in rescue teams including helicopters from air force to trace the missing troopers.

The spokesman said rescuers bracing adverse climatic conditions continued the searches for second straight day.

"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," Joshi said. "Specialized equipment was flown in to Leh today morning to further boost the rescue efforts."

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