Army rescuers in search of avalanche victims

Posted on 1 years ago

RAWALPINDI/SIACHEN (NNI): Pakistan army continued rescue operations on Thursday despite inclement weather to reach out for 138 soldiers and civilians buried under snow after a massive avalanche hit their camp at Siachen on Saturday, the ISPR said.
The ISPR statement aid that excavation in snow has gone down up to 35 meters as chances of survival were very slim on sixth day of the deadly avalanche, the heaviest in 20 years since the camp had been established there.
An army statement said that massive relief and rescue efforts were in progress at Gayari on Thursday as another priority point (Sixth Site) has been added to the search and rescue work which is under way at five identified points.
"At present 15 heavy machines which include dumpers, dozers, excavators and loaders are working at the search site," the statement said. "Work will start at 39-meter-long horizontal tunnel with a dia of 3 meters to attain access to the accommodation area," it said, adding that at point one, excavating had gone down up to 115 feet while at point two, excavation work had gone down to 100 feet.
The statement noted that a 450-meter long access track has been developed and improved by adding sub grade to improve traction for wheeled plant equipment on the avalanche to access the priority points.
The work on both main access tracks has been carried out to increase the total length to 1.5 kilometers.
Officials said harsh weather conditions were hampering the search and rescue work at the avalanche site as no body or survivor has so far been retrieved.
"The weather continues to be harsh and unfriendly, posing operational and administrative difficulties for both men and machines busy in the rescue operation.
However, the trying weather hazards and colossal work at hand have not been able to flinch the resolve of men employed in the rescue efforts, said the statement.
Meanwhile, the media wing of army on Thursday released the pictures of 94 soldiers who have been buried with their names and ranks.

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