3 Army Personnel Killed After Major Avalanche Hits Siachen Glacier, Rescue Ops Underway

Three army personnel were killed after a major avalanche struck the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh on Tuesday. Rescue operations are currently underway to search for other possible victims and ensure the safety of remaining troops stationed in the area. The harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain have posed significant challenges for the rescue teams as they work against time to reach the affected zone.

3 soldiers of Mahar Regiment killed in an avalanche that hit their camp at #Siachen glacier in #Ladakh. The soldiers belong to Gujarat, UP and Jharkhand. They were stuck for 5 hours inside snow. A captain was saved: The photo is cropped. twitter/0benRcVCoq

- Arjun Sharma (अर्जुन शर्मा) (@arjunsharma_86) September 9, 2025

In February, this year, a massive avalanche struck a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) construction camp near Mana village in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. The avalanche buried 54 workers under snow and debris. Rescue operations, led by the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local authorities, were launched promptly. Despite facing severe weather conditions, including sub-zero temperatures, the teams managed to rescue 46 workers. Tragically, eight workers lost their lives. The last missing worker's body was recovered on March 2, 2025, marking the end of the three-day rescue operation.

In March 2024, a significant avalanche in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district obstructed the flow of the Chenab River near Jasrat village. The avalanche led to the closure of over 650 roads across the state due to heavy snowfall and rain. While no casualties were reported, the incident disrupted normal life and prompted authorities to issue advisories for residents and travelers in the affected regions.

In April 2021, two Indian Army soldiers, Sepoy Prabhjit Singh and Sepoy Amardeep Singh of 21 Punjab, were killed in an avalanche in Sub Sector Haneef, Southern Siachen Glacier. The avalanche struck their patrol at around 1 pm, and despite rescue efforts, both soldiers succumbed to their injuries. Other soldiers and porters in the area were rescued and are stable. The incident highlights the perilous conditions faced by troops in the region.

On November 18, 2019, an avalanche in the northern sector of Siachen Glacier buried a group of eight soldiers and two civilian porters. The avalanche struck around 3 pm, and despite rescue efforts, four soldiers and two porters died due to extreme hypothermia. The remaining personnel were rescued and evacuated to a military hospital. The incident underscores the harsh and unpredictable conditions in the region.

(With agency inputs)

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