NEW DELHI: Is extreme weather deadlier than the enemy for the Indian Army at icy heights of 20,000 feet in Siachen and other hilly terrain of Kashmir ? A Major was killed and four soldiers were injured after an avalanche hit an Army camp in J&K's Ganderbal district in the wee hours of Wednesday.Two Army officers, along with jawans, were at their two shelters when an avalanche struck them at Ganderbal's Sonamarg around 5.45am. While one officer and jawans were rescued, the other officer, Major Amit Sagar of High Altitude Warfare School, died. However, over 900 soldiers have died in the Siachen region since April 1984 when India's 'Operation Meghdhoot' pre-empted Pakistan's 'Operation Ababeel' to occupy the heights by a whisker. "Though the Army remains in constant touch with the weather department, avalanches are unpredictable," the source said.

Source: Times of India January 26, 2017 01:58 UTC