Srinagar, December 4: Three jawans of the Indian Army died after they were trapped in an avalanche in Jammu and Kashmir's Tangdhar sector on Tuesday night. While three Army personnel were rescued, three had gone missing after the avalanche hit a patrol party. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to locate the missing jawans. Another avalanche hit an army position at Gurez in north Kashmir on Tuesday. One Army jawan lost life in the incident.

This year early snowfall in Kashmir has caused a major dip in the temperature and triggered avalanches in the upper reaches of the valley. On November 28, two soldiers died after they were trapped in an avalanche in southern Siachen Glacier at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet. On November 18, four Army soldiers and two civilian porters died after they were trapped in an avalanche on the Siachen Glacier's northern sector. Chhattisgarh: ITBP Personnel Open Fire at Each Other Over Dispute in Narayanpur, Five Jawans Killed.

In the last ten years, 167 Army personnel have lost their lives in Siachen Glacier due to weather-related incidents. In the past, avalanches have hit not only patrolling soldiers but also Army posts. In 2016, ten soldiers were buried alive after an avalanche hit an Army camp in northern Siachen.

Avalanches and snow-storms are experienced regularly by troops operating in the Siachen. The Army monitors advancing avalanches with data provided by the Manali-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE). The Army also provides soldiers with avalanche bags and avalanche victim detectors in the form of beacons which would help their recovery in case they are trapped under the snow. (With IANS inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 04, 2019 12:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).