Four army men killed in avalanche in Siachen

Tragedy strikes Indian Army troops deployed on the world's highest battlefield of Siachen on Sunday when a massive snow avalanche hit their patrolling party leaving at least four soldiers dead in Nobra block of Leh district in the cold desert of Ladakh.

The incident occurred at 8.30 am on Sunday when soldiers of 3-Ladakh Scouts unit were busy clearing the road from Laskin to Gulab base near Nobra.

Police said as the road opening party was busy working, a massive snow avalanche rolled down from the mountains killing all the four soldiers.

Indian Army immediately launched a rescue operation in the area and retrieved the bodies from the snow. The bodies were later shifted to hospital near Hundur where doctors conducted their post mortem.

The deceased soldiers were identified as Havaldar Dorjey Gason, Havaldar Tsewang Norboo, Rifleman Jigmat Chosdup and Rifleman Mohmmad Yusuf. All the deceased hail from the Ladakh division of Jammu and Kashmir.

Colonel SD Goswami, defence spokesman at Northern Command, said tragedy struck when the patrolling party was going from one place to another.

"Four jawans of Ladakh scouts unit were hit by the snow avalanche at 8.30 am on Sunday. A rescue mission was immediately launched. However despite all possible efforts the jawans could not be saved. No one was injured in the incident. The bodies of soldiers were handed over to their families for last rites," he said