10 soldiers missing in Siachin Glacier avalanche

Jammu, Feb 3 (IANS) Ten soldiers, including an officer, went missing on Wednesday after an avalanche hit them in Siachin Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region.

"Ten soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), are missing after an avalanche hit their patrol at 19,000 feet above the sea level in southern side of the Siachin Glacier early Wednesday," Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman of army’s Udhampur headquartered northern command, told IANS here.

"A massive rescue operation has been started by the army and the Air Force to trace the missing personnel who are feared buried under the avalanche," he added.

Siachin Glacier is the world’s highest battlefield which the brave hearts of the Indian Army guard despite extremely hostile climate.

The winter temperatures often drops to minus 50 degrees Celsius in the region.