Army Aviators rescue injured Naval personnel in Ladakh

Jammu, Sep 17 (PTI) Army aviators today rescued injuredNaval members of a mountaineering expedition in Ladakh sectorof Jammu and Kashmir. Aviators of the Army stationed in Ladakh successfullyrescued members of a Naval Mountaineering expedition to SaserKangri peak in Siachen Glacier area in Ladakh today, a Defencespokesman said. The Naval mountaineering expedition consisting of 14members and 10 porters was launched under the aegis ofIntegrated Headquarters of Defence (Navy) on August 9, hesaid, adding that the expedition was to scale Saser Kangripeak near Siachen Glacier. The expedition team encountered an avalanche near Point7285 (25030 feet) and some of its members sustained seriousinjuries necessitating immediate casualty evacuation, thespokesman said. He said the Army took on the onerous task of evacuatingNaval personnel under adverse weather and terrain conditions. Responding to the call, pilots of the Indian ArmyAviation rescued the Naval personnel, despite the area beingcovered with loose stones, boulders and snow, he said. PTI ABIKA RGIKA