Army captain dies in avalanche

An Army Captain was killed and 15 soldiers were rescued after an avalanche struck a patrol party in Siachen Glacier in Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Regimental Medical Officer Captain Ashwini Kumar died after the avalanche hit the southern area of glacier.

“A patrol party of army came under an avalanche in southern area of Siachen glacier yesterday,” Udhampur-based defence spokesman Colonel S D Goswami said.

Following the avalanche, a rescue operation was launched where 15 soldiers were rescued.

“Regimental Medical Officer Captain Ashwini Kumar could not be saved and his body was retrieved from under the avalanche,” Colonel S D Goswami said.

Captain Kumar, from 3 Ladakh Scouts, was a bachelor and hailed from Patiala in Punjab.

“General Officer Commanding of the Army’s Northern Command Lt General D S Hooda has expressed grief over the loss of the officer,” Colonel S D Goswami added.

The Army commander has conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.