The Siachen Glacier is located at a height of 18,875 feet and experiences inclement weather conditions for almost 9 to 12 months each year. While weather does offer some respite between the months of April and May, weather conditions continue to remain challenging. Winter season in the region lasts from September to March. But winter is at its peak during the months of December and January with temperatures plummeting to as low as -50°C. The ‘Third Pole’ of the world, as Siachen is often referred to, also fuels the largest irrigation system in the world by feeding the 3,000 km long Indus River which runs through India and Pakistan.
In order to score a strategic advantage over Pakistan and China, it becomes essential that the Siachen Glacier be manned by ground troops. This calls for round the clock manning of base camps and routine patrolling as well. But survival in Siachen is a completely different challenge altogether. Troops are deployed in Siachen for a period of three months only. The first stage is training and acclimatization, which takes place in base camps set up close to the region by the Armed Forces. Major parameters for deployment in Siachen involve age limit and physical as well as mental fitness. Troops to be deployed must be below the age of 30 and have to pass rigorous medical examinations. Furthermore, the filtering process also involves taking into account existing ailments, allergies, and any other medical anomalies which may aggravate in Siachen’s extreme weather environment.
Once deployed, soldiers have to overcome an array of challenges. Firstly, deployment in Siachen is not about holding a position and staying put. The vast and widespread glacier demands that soldiers patrol from point to point. Secondly, the trek is extremely slow as a safe path for travel has to be chalked out in advance and troops have to think on their feet. Any miscalculation can prove to be fatal. Thirdly, although the troops hardly experience an eye to eye contact with enemy forces, they have to remain vigilant and battle preparedness has to be maintained. At times, it takes days to cover a few kilometers. Fourthly, soldiers have to boil the glacier snow to get water for their daily needs. And lastly, lack of appetite, no exercising, a strict no to alcohol, and a recommended dosage of water intake make livelihood extremely hard for the troops.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) deploys light helicopters in the Siachen Glacier. These indigenously built low capacity copters carry troops as well as essential resources. Twin-engine copters do fly over the region but they don’t make a landing. Light helicopters make a short-stay landing but do not shut down their engine and rotors. Manning in terms of logistics too is a difficult task. The IAF executes the herculean task of supplying logistic equipment, arms, ammunitions, and food in the Siachen region. At times, when landing is deemed unsafe, packages are air-dropped in chutes. These packages are then needed to be retrieved by the on-ground troops. The highly efficient close co-operation between the two wings of the Armed Forces in this region, is mind-blowing, to say the least.
Siachen Glacier continues to remain a challenging battleground for the Armed Forces. India’s two-third occupancy of the region must be maintained at all costs. Repeated incursion attempts have been ‘thawed’ by the Indian Armed Forces tirelessly guarding the region. Evacuation and resupplying is another major problem in the Siachen Glacier. Generally, air support is not available on demand and only troop-rotation flights are scheduled. From training to deployment, and from survival to EVAC, Siachen Glacier hosts a battle between India, Pakistan, and extreme weather conditions.