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Glacial Existence
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Even as casualties have reduced, life at Siachen remains a story of a daily struggle |
Troops at the Siachen base camp training for the forward march.jpg
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By Pravin Sawhney and Ghazala Wahab
In the last 28 years, the cavernous hollows of the Siachen glacier have swallowed many young lives, limbs and minds. Official accounts put the number of deaths on the glacier at 772. Very few of these have been because of war. The Mahar regiment records its induction on the glacier in these words: ‘The battalion took over operational responsibility on March 1. Induction to certain posts was only through helicopters and it was always a battle between carrying the much-needed supplies, mail or manpower. On March 3 havildar Wankhede expired in his sleep due to High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema. Sepoy Mohite suffered frostbite and lost all fingers of both hands. Siachen claimed its first victims within 48 hours of the battalion’s arrival. On March 12, one soldier fell 15,000ft to his death. Every attempt to retrieve his body proved of little consequence.’ |
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However, that was then. Over the years, the army, air force and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) understanding the demands of the glacier, suitably propitiated it. The number of casualties came down and with experience, technology and increased budgetary allocations, life is much more bearable. Such is the comfort factor about Siachen today that analysts no longer talk about the hardships that the soldiers endure, but about the money being wasted on an unnecessary conflict and its disastrous ecological consequences. Yet, the truth is that Siachen is not fit for human habitation despite the scientific advancements, insulated clothing and accommodation. From the time troops are inducted to de-induction, life at the glacier remains a story of constant struggle. Even today, in military circles, Siachen is jokingly referred to as punishment posting, a place which even today has the potential of scarring a soldier for life.
First Step
Induction starts with training at the Siachen Battle School located at the base camp at about 12,000ft. The SBS provides the troops with requisite three stage acclimatisation, apart from training them for life on the glacier. The men undergo five-week rigorous training in ice craft, rock craft, movement on glacier, survival training including first-aid, use of HAPO bags, tactical training, setting up of habitat, such as tents, ice caves and so on. The guiding principal here is: The more you sweat at SBS, less blood you’ll spill on the glacier. While the tenure on the glacier is three months, troops spend a year in Sub-Sector West or Sub-Sector Hanif, with the exception of a few posts which fall in extreme high altitude (17,000ft and above). Learning from experience, the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) have deemed that staying at the glacier beyond this period may cause serious physiological and psychological damage.
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