2 Indian army officers killed in Siachen fire in Indian-controlled Kashmir
Source: peopledaily
Two Indian army officers were burned to death and two other troopers were injured when their shelter located in Siachen glacier caught fire late Thursday night, officials said Friday.
Siachen Glacier, which is located 6300 meters above sea level, is considered as the highest battlefield in the world.
"Two officers were killed and two soldiers suffered burnt injuries after their shelter on Siachen caught fire Thursday night, " said Lt. Col. J. S. Brar, Indian army spokesperson in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The shelter according to reports located 19,000-feet on Siachen glacier was made of fiberglass. The cause of fire was not immediately known.
"An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain reasons behind fire," Brar said.
The officers, both Lieutenants, died when the fibreglass bunker they were staying in caught fire late on Thursday night, the Press Trust of India quoted military sources as saying.
Four soldiers, who tried to rescue the officers, sustained burn injuries on their hands, said the report.
A Srinagar-based defense spokesman said details of the incident are being collected, according to the report.
Siachen is located near the Line of Control (LoC) bordering Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and its treacherous sub zero climate costs billion of rupees in military expenditures for both India and Pakistan and have counted for scores of lives, more due to frostbite and high altitude sickness than combat action.
India believes that the glacier is of vital, strategic and diplomatic value. It has deployed hundreds of troops on the glacier.
New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire over Siachen glacier and along the International Border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.
Two Indian army officers were burned to death and two other troopers were injured when their shelter located in Siachen glacier caught fire late Thursday night, officials said Friday.
Siachen Glacier, which is located 6300 meters above sea level, is considered as the highest battlefield in the world.
"Two officers were killed and two soldiers suffered burnt injuries after their shelter on Siachen caught fire Thursday night, " said Lt. Col. J. S. Brar, Indian army spokesperson in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
The shelter according to reports located 19,000-feet on Siachen glacier was made of fiberglass. The cause of fire was not immediately known.
"An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain reasons behind fire," Brar said.
The officers, both Lieutenants, died when the fibreglass bunker they were staying in caught fire late on Thursday night, the Press Trust of India quoted military sources as saying.
Four soldiers, who tried to rescue the officers, sustained burn injuries on their hands, said the report.
A Srinagar-based defense spokesman said details of the incident are being collected, according to the report.
Siachen is located near the Line of Control (LoC) bordering Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and its treacherous sub zero climate costs billion of rupees in military expenditures for both India and Pakistan and have counted for scores of lives, more due to frostbite and high altitude sickness than combat action.
India believes that the glacier is of vital, strategic and diplomatic value. It has deployed hundreds of troops on the glacier.
New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire over Siachen glacier and along the International Border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.
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