By NNN-PTI
Jammu : The Indian Army can now stake its claim to be capable of guarding the highest and coldest battle field, Siachen glacier, with “ease” with only three casualities being reported in the region, a senior official said.
“With better mountain-warfare training and management, medi-care facilities and best living standards, the battlefield casualities are virtually nil. We are nearing the zero casuality syndrome in the glacier region,” General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern command, Lt Gen H S Panag has said.
This year there were only three casualties, including that of two pilots, who died in a chopper crash, he said adding one jawan (soldier) was killed in accidental fire.
It is after two decades of occupation that the army is nearing a zero casualty syndrome on the Siachen glacier, with no casualty being recorded due to cold.
With the availability of state of art medicare facilities, best battle field robes and equipment, high living conditions and Indo-Pak border truce since November 2003, the Siachen casualties have declined.
“Now Indian Army is considered to have expertise in mountain warfare, because of its successful stint in Siachen glacier, which is a live battle field where troops have to fight for their survival,” Gen Panag said.
Gen Panag claimed that army is now capable of guarding the Siachen glacier, the strategically important point to India, with ease.
As per statistics, till November 2003, Siachen have had over 2,020 casualties, largely due to cold conditions, inhospitable terrains.