Three soldiers died in a major avalanche at Siachen base camp in Ladakh, officials said on Tuesday. The avalanche hit the region, the world’s highest battlefield, in the Union Territory of Ladakh, hitting the base camp of Indian Army.
The avalanche occurred in the 12,000-feet-high Siachen base camp area on Sunday, trapping three soldiers, including two Agniveers, the officials said, reported PTI. They added that a rescue operation was immediately launched and the bodies of the trapped soldiers were retrieved.
“GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and All Ranks salute Sepoy Mohit Kumar, Agniveer Niraj Kumar Choudhary and Agniveer Dabhi Rakesh Devabhai, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in #Siachen on 09 Sep 2025 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” Fire and Fury Corps, Indian Army said in a post on X.
GOC, Fire and Fury Corps and All Ranks salute Sepoy Mohit Kumar, Agniveer Niraj Kumar Choudhary and Agniveer Dabhi Rakesh Devabhai, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in #Siachen on 09 Sep 2025 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.… pic.twitter.com/dqrbKwefDH
— @firefurycorps_IA (@firefurycorps) September 9, 2025
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range of the Himalayas, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan ends in northeastern Kashmir, reported IANS. With a length of 76 km, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and the second-longest in the world’s non-polar areas.
It falls from an altitude of 5,753 m (18,875 ft) above sea level. The Siachen Glacier and all of its major passes have been under the control of India as part of Ladakh since 1984.
Pakistan Army controls the region which is on the west of Saltoro Ridge.
India’s Operation Meghdoot in Siachen
The region of the glacier is the highest battleground on Earth, where Pakistan and India have fought intermittently since April 1984. India had launched Operation Meghdoot to occupy Siachen Glacier in 1984.
Amid repeated Pakistani incursions during the Kargil War in 1999, India strengthened its position in Siachen Glacier to prevent any attempts by the Pakistan army to occupy the area. Former PM Manmohan Singh was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the region area. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was the first President to visit the area.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited Siachen. The temperature here drops to minus 50 degrees Celsius during the winter months.