After 38 years missing Indian soldier’s body found on glacier

On a glacier at the highest point along the heavily militarised disputed border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, the remains of an Indian army soldier have been recovered more than 38 years after he went missing, officials said on Wednesday.

In May 1984, an avalanche struck the soldier and 17 other colleagues as they were occupying a ridge on the Siachen Glacier, high in the Karakoram range in the Ladakh area of the disputed Kashmir, officials said.

13 soldiers’ remains were found, while five were still missing.

According to an identity disc retrieved by a team of soldiers on Monday at the glacier, the remains belonged to Chandra Shekhar, one of the missing men, the Indian Army said.

Shekhar was a part of the first Indian army unit to take the 76 km (47 mi) long glacier in 1984 amidst fierce combat with Pakistani troops, who also hold a part of divided Kashmir. Both nuclear-armed neighbours claim ownership of the entire area. Before Indian troops arrived, the glacier—which is regarded as the highest battlefield in the world—was unoccupied.

Since then, the two nations have sent troops as high as 6,700 metres (21,982 feet). On the glacier, they have engaged in sporadic clashes, although more Indian and Pakistani soldiers have died from the harsh conditions than from hostile fire.

In three avalanches in 2017, at least 20 Indian soldiers killed. 129 Pakistani soldiers were among the 140 persons killed by an avalanche in 2012 in Kashmir, which is under the control of Pakistan.

There have been no successful negotiations between India and Pakistan to demilitarise the glacier.

Following a funeral with full military honours on Wednesday, Shekhar’s remains were being flown to his native village in northern Uttarakhand state, according to the army.

(With Inputs from AP)

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