Siachen rescue operation on track despite odds: ISPR

Briefing the media about the current situation, Major General Ather Abbas said that a fresh slide, which had triggered at the site of avalanche, has created difficulties for troops devoted to conducting search and rescue operation at Gayari.He said that the nation is likely to be informed about some good news in this regard.He said that situation has been compounded by the mass of snow in which troops are working under low temperature, intermittent snowfall and piercing blizzards. However, concern of their brothers at arms under avalanche is driving troops of Siachen Sector to endure hardships of the weather and terrain to accomplish their task befittingly, he said.Major General General Ashfaq Nadeem said that his team is trying to complete the digging work by heavy machinery; however transportation of heavy machinery is not an easy task.He said that the excavation work, therefore, continue at its fullest exploiting all available manual and mechanical resources. The endeavour is to dig as quickly as possible. In this regard, the search teams have commenced excavation at a new site as well with the help of plant equipment and infantry troops, he said.The rescue teams have conducted first level explosion to dig further into hard mass of snow against the tunnel being attempted to access a suspected structure at an important excavation site.The digging team is doing a remarkable job in undertaking the tunnelling effort against all odds like heavy pileup of snow, extreme cold and cramped up work space. The excavation work at the remaining sites continues as usual. The all out support rendered by the nation by making maximum resources available have boosted the morale of the troops and given them vigour to undertake the mammoth task.It has been the tradition of the Pakistan Army that it goes all out even for the bodies of soldiers fallen in a clash. In keeping with the brave traditions, the Army is all out to rescue the trapped soldiers.