Seven Indian Army personnel, who had been missing after being struck by an avalanche on Sunday in a high-altitude area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Kameng sector, have been confirmed dead. Army officials said on Tuesday that the bodies of the seven personnel have been retrieved from the avalanche site.
The Army personnel were part of a patrol that was hit by the avalanche in the West Kameng district of the northeastern state. The Army had launched a search and rescue operation using specialised teams on Sunday after the soldiers went missing. The Army had airlifted SAR teams to the avalanche site considering the gravity of the matter.
“Bodies of all seven individuals have been recovered from the avalanche site. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, all seven have been confirmed deceased,” said an official.
According to the official, the avalanche took place at an altitude of 14,500 feet in an area that had been witnessing inclement weather with heavy snowfall over the last several days.
“The bodies of the soldiers are currently being transferred from the avalanche site to the nearest Army medical facility for further formalities,” the official stated further.
