Commoners can now visit Siachen glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, as tourists and get a feel of how the Armed Forces guard this strategically important sector despite extreme weather conditions and inhospitable terrain. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday announced the glacier is now “open” to tourists and they can trek from the base camp to Kumar post.
The Army earlier used to organise such treks for civilians annually but it was suspended two years back due to logistical and operational issues. The one-month long trek used to take place intermittently due to harsh weather conditions and all the trekkers had to undergo medical test before undertaking the arduous journey.
The temperatures there vary from minus 10 to minus 40 degrees Celsius and the troops have been guarding posts at heights ranging from 16,000 feet to 24,000 feet since 1984. More than 1,000 Indian soldiers have died there since then and most of the casualties took place due to weather and avalanches. However, the trekkers were taken through a guided route from Siachen base camp to Kumar post.
The base camp is at a height of 12,000 feet while the Kumar post is at an altitude of 16,000 feet. Given the nature of the terrain, the trekkers were put through a three-phase acclimatisation due to harsh winter and lack of oxygen.
Making the important announcement about the Siachen, Singh said it is “now open” to tourists, after inaugurating a strategically important bridge on the Shyok river in eastern Ladakh.
“From Siachen base camp to Kumar post, the entire area has been opened for tourism purposes,” he tweeted. Better connectivity in Ladakh would certainly bring tourists in large numbers, he said in another tweet.
The Indian Army had proposed some months back opening up of the glacier to masses to let them appreciate the working conditions of the troops, officials said and the Government later gave the nod.
The nearest airport to Siachen is located at Thoise and troops board and deboard there to serve a stint at the glacier or returning after finishing the term which lasts about three to four months.
As regards the bridge in Ladakh, the ‘Colonel Chewang Rinchen Setu’ was constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at an altitude of 14,650 feet in the forward area of Ladakh region.
“This bridge has been completed in record time. It will not only provide all weather connectivity in the region but also be a strategic asset in the border areas,” Singh tweeted after the inaugural ceremony.
He also tweeted that India shares cordial relations with China and while there are “perceptional differences” between both the countries on the boundary issue but “the issue has been handled with great maturity and responsibly.”
“Both the countries have not allowed the situation to escalate or go out of hand,” he stated. Construction started in 2007 and the bridge is 4.5 meters wide and 1400 ft long and has a load carrying capacity of 70 tonnes. It will be boost road connectivity from Drabuk to Daulat-Beg-Oldie (DBO). This is part of strategic roads under construction to facilitate faster movement of the military.
According to information given in Parliament by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik in July 2019, a revised Long Term Roll on Works Plan of Border Roads Organisation for five years (2018-19 to 2022-23) has been formulated for construction/improvement of 272 roads of length 14,545 km in border areas.
“Out of these 272 roads, 61 roads of length 3323.57 km have been identified as strategic. Work has been completed on 2304.65 km and work on balance stretches is in progress,” Naik had stated in a written reply adding that in addition to meeting the operational requirement, these roads on completion, “would also enhance accessibility to border areas where the border infrastructure and forward connectivity is lacking.”