DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Indian soldier rescued after six days in Himalayan avalanche
by Staff Writers
New Delhi (AFP) Feb 8, 2016


One of 10 Indian soldiers feared dead after an avalanche six days ago in the remote Himalayas has been miraculously rescued alive, officials said.

He was found days after authorities said there was little chance of finding survivors following the Siachen Glacier accident last week.

"In the ongoing rescue operation at Siachen, of the 10 soldiers buried... (one) has been found alive," General D.S. Hooda from the army's northern command said in a statement Monday.

"All other soldiers are regrettably no longer with us," it added.

The rescued soldier, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa, was in critical condition and officials would try to evacuate him from the mountain later Tuesday morning to be moved to an army hospital in New Delhi.

"We hope the miracle continues. Pray with us," the statement said.

He was buried under nearly eight metres (25 feet) of snow, according to PTI news agency.

The soldiers were on duty at an army post on a glacier at an altitude of 5,900 metres when it was hit by the massive avalanche.

Specialist army and air force teams had been searching for the missing soldiers near the de facto border with Pakistan.

The army had said the odds of finding anyone alive were very slim, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on Twitter last week.

Indian troops patrol the Siachen Glacier, dubbed the world's highest battlefield, in the Kashmir region, which is disputed between India and Pakistan.

Avalanches and landslides are common in the area during winter and temperatures can drop as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 degrees Fahrenheit).

An estimated 8,000 troops have died on the glacier since 1984, almost all of them from avalanches, landslides, frostbite, altitude sickness or heart failure rather than combat.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan fought over Siachen in 1987. But guns on the glacier have largely fallen silent since a peace process began in 2004.

.


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Nepal quake survivors fight freezing temperatures
Laprak, Nepal (AFP) Feb 5, 2016
Nine months after a massive earthquake hit Nepal, thousands of survivors are now fighting sub-zero temperatures in flimsy temporary shelters, awaiting government help to rebuild their homes. The threat of landslides had forced families in the remote village of Laprak, close to the quake's epicentre in western Nepal, to relocate to a site a thousand metres higher. Rajani Gurung was among ... read more


DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Raytheon developing radar upgrade for Patriot system

Boeing, Northrop Grumman conduct missile system flight test

Raytheon, MDA test new thruster for EKV missile

Japan orders military to prepare to destroy N. Korea missile

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
U.S. Navy requests 4,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles in budget

Russia's cutting-edge S-500 missile system to begin tests this year

Raytheon to research tactical missile capabilities

US says stands by Iran missile sanctions

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
US drone strike kills top Qaeda chief in south Yemen: family

Israeli, South Korean firms forming JV for UAV production

Britain set to buy two Zephyr spy drones from Airbus

Armed US Predator drone crashes in Turkey

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
ViaSat tapped to provide tactical terminals for Apache helicopters

Harris wins place on military communications contract

General Dynamics MUOS-Manpack radio supports government testing of MUOS network

Raytheon to produce, test Navy Multiband Terminals

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
New material lights up when detecting explosives

Israel begins testing Trophy system on Namer troop carriers

Two US generals in favor of the draft for women

Lockheed Martin, AEC Sniper ATP center opens in Saudi Arabia

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Russia proposes licensed production of T-90S tanks in Iran

CACI completes acquisition of L-3 NSS Inc.

PZL challenges Polish MOD contract decision

Engility continues DOD classified engineering, intel support

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Latvia up in arms over BBC's Russian invasion drama

US open to joint patrols in South China Sea with Philippines: envoy

Pope Francis under fire over China 'Realpolitik'

Ukraine economy minister resigns citing stalled reforms

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Nanosheet growth technique could revolutionize nanomaterial production

New type of nanowires, built with natural gas heating

New record in nanoelectronics at ultralow temperatures

Nano-coating makes coaxial cables lighter