7 Indian soldiers killed in avalanche near China border

Indian soldiers near the border with China. UNB

New Delhi, Feb 08 -- Two days after seven Indian soldiers went missing after getting caught in an avalanche while on a routine patrol along the China border in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, the Army Tuesday said that their bodies had been recovered.

The Armymen went missing while on a routine patrol in the high-altitude Kameng sector on Sunday afternoon after the avalanche struck the team. "Despite the best efforts of everyone involved, all seven have been confirmed dead," the Indian Army said in the statement.

"The area, located at an altitude of 14,500 feet, had been witnessing inclement weather with heavy snowfall since the last few days. The bodies are currently being transferred from the avalanche site to the nearest Army medical facility for further formalities," it added.

The tragic news came barely two months after India's first military chief General Bipin Malik died in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Apart from the General, his wife and 12 other armed forces personnel were killed in that crash in December last year.

The 63-year-old four-star General was on his way to deliver a lecture at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed in the Nilgiris and burst into flames. While 13 people on board were killed on the spot, an Air Force officer died later.

General Rawat has had a chequered career in the armed forces spanning over 40 years, rising from the rank of a junior commissioned officer to the first head of the tri-services. He reported directly to the Prime Minister. - UNB