Ladakh, Sep 9: Three soldiers of the Army’s Mahar Regiment, including two Agniveers, were killed after an avalanche struck the Siachen glacier base camp in Ladakh, the world’s highest battlefield, on Monday morning. A Captain was rescued after being trapped for hours under snow, but the three others succumbed to extreme cold before their bodies could be recovered on Tuesday.
The avalanche buried the soldiers under several feet of snow, triggering an immediate rescue mission. However, officials said bad weather hampered evacuation efforts as helicopters could not land smoothly in the treacherous terrain. “The inclement conditions delayed the operation, making the task extremely difficult for the rescuers,” an officer said.
Ladakh-based Fire and Fury Corps paid tribute 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 9 Sep 2025 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” the statement read.
Sources said the Captain, a resident of Noida, remained trapped under snow for nearly five hours before he was pulled out alive. He sustained frostbite injuries on his left hand and nose and complained of swelling in his hand after the ordeal. “It was nothing short of a miracle that he survived the extreme conditions,” a rescuer noted.
The three deceased soldiers were identified as Sepoy Mohit Kumar, 25, a resident of Auraiya tehsil in Uttar Pradesh; Agniveer Dabhi Rakesh Devabhai, 22, from Junagarh in Gujarat; and Agniveer Niraj Kumar Choudhary from Deogarh in Jharkhand.
Army officials said despite repeated attempts to airlift the trapped personnel on Monday, the harsh weather and low visibility stalled the chopper operations. By the time rescuers managed to retrieve the trapped soldiers, the trio had already succumbed to the cold.
The incident once again underscored the risks soldiers face while serving at Siachen, where temperatures plunge well below zero and avalanches remain a constant threat. The Army said it stands firmly with the bereaved families and will extend all possible support in this time of grief.
