All ten bodies of Siachen tragedy have been laid to rest at their respective homes. The soldiers got buried under snow due to collapse of a snow wall on February 3. This does not deter or even lower the spirit and morale of the brave troops stationed in the highest battlefield but surely, the irreparable loss remains a concern.
Unassuming harsh winters, that too under hostile environment, keeps sending a gentle reminder of National Security requirements, inadequacy of which could lead to sacrifice of Military personnel. We at Skymet pay tribute to our soldiers and salute their bravery.
The satellite imageries indicate shrinking of glaciers mainly on account of positioning of troops, both of India and Pakistan, in the region. Located in the eastern Karakoram ranges in the western Himalayas, at altitudes of 15,000 to 21,000 feet, military personnels man the posts where the temperature drops to - 60°C. Serving in Siachen does not only require tremendous medical fitness but also a nerve of steel to survive there for months together.
Snowstorms in Siachen may last for several days and are invariably accompanied with very strong winds, exceeding 100 kmph. Yearly snowfall in Siachen can be well over 3 dozen feet. During the snowstorm, at least 2 to 3 soldiers have to keep using shovels to clear snow around their post, otherwise the location gets buried.
In Siachen, you are at a risk of getting a deadly frostbite if the bare skin touches steel, including gun trigger, for just over 15 seconds. The troops are also vulnerable to a score of ailments like Chilblains, loss of memory, loss of weight, sleep disorder, speech slurring, snow blindness etc. Imagine staying at a place with 10% of oxygen supply, - 50 to - 60°C temperatures and 20,000 feet above mean sea level.
Indian Army controls all of the 76 km long Siachen and its tributary glaciers. Heavy snow and frequent avalanches alter the terrain features around the respective locations and the patrol routes. For the sake of National Interest, it is essential to control these strategic heights as this advantageous position allows Indian Army to keep an eye on the activities of both Pakistan and China. It also prevents their link up in that area, in case of a conflict. “We do difficult as a routine. The impossible may take a little longer” is the motto of each soldier serving in Siachen.
Though SASE (Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment), a DRDO establishment forecasts avalanches and issues alerts for adverse weather conditions but vagaries of weather continue to go beyond the comprehension of weather models. Therefore, we need to improve them further to mitigate unbearable losses.
Image credit - crazyladder.com
The author, AVM G.P. Sharma (Retd), is the chief meteorologist at Skymetweather. He has spent 36 years in the Indian Air Force and during his tenure, he headed the meteorology branch at the Indian Air Force for four years. He has spent more than two years in Skymetweather.
