A massive avalanche struck the Siachen Glacier base camp in Ladakh on Tuesday, claiming the lives of three Indian Army soldiers. According to defence sources, the incident occurred suddenly, prompting immediate rescue operations. The Army has shifted other personnel to safer locations while search teams continue efforts to recover the bodies of the martyred soldiers. Heavy snowfall in the region has further increased the risk of additional avalanches.
The Siachen Glacier, located near Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Aksai Chin, and the Shaksgam Valley—ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963—holds immense strategic importance for India. The area allows the Army to closely monitor adversarial activities while providing control over routes connecting Leh to Gilgit. Its military and strategic significance makes troop deployment in the region crucial despite extreme weather challenges.
