Siachen Avalanche: Army declares all trapped soldiers dead; PM Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar pays condolences

                             

All ten soldiers who were hit by a massive avalanche at Siachen on Wednesday have been declared  dead by the Army. "It's a tragic event and we salute the soldiers who braved all the challenges to guard our frontier and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," said General Officer Commanding in-Chief Lt General D.S Hooda.

The  Ministry of Defence had earlier said in the day that the chances of survivors  were very less. "With deepest regret we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are very remote," said the Defence spokesman.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too mourned on the demise of the soldiers on Thursday. In a tweet, PM Modi said, "Demise of Soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families."

Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 4, 2016

One Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO)  and nine jawans of the Army's 19 Madras battalian has been trapped after the avalanche hit their post in Siachen early Wednesday morning. The post is almost 19,600 feet on the Actual Ground Position Line(AGPL)- the border with Pakistan at Siachen glacier - in the vicinity of Bana post.


Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar also mourned his condolences on the death of the soldiers and said ,"Hertful condolences to the near and dear ones of  our brave soldiers martyred in the line of duity in the most difficult terrain of Siachen."

Heartfelt condolences to the near and dear ones of our brave soldiers martyred in the line of duty in the most difficult terrain of Siachen.

— Manohar Parrikar (@manoharparrikar) February 4, 2016