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Along Border With China, An Army Battalion Tackles Peaks At Minus 30 Degrees
Thursday, December 24, 2015
By: NDTV
MARATHA GROUND, TAWANG: It is minus 15 degrees Celsius and snowing steadily and heavily. A section of the 14 Punjab, now the Tawang Battalion, is climbing a cliff that rises almost 90 degrees from the ground.
"Every soldier here needs these skills," says Colonel Rajesh Singh, commanding officer of the 14 Punjab as he also shouts out instructions to his boys who have by now climbed 70 or 80 feet. From where we stand, they are small dots steadily moving up the cliff.
"Bare handed is the best, it gives a better grip and feel," Colonel Singh says pointing to the lead climber, who is nearing the top.
Every team that patrols, on foot, the ridges that divide India and China, has to climb cliffs routinely. It is not easy. Some of these cliffs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) - the de-facto border with China - are over 1500 ft high. Temperatures go down below minus 30 degree Celsius. And, unlike the Chinese People's Liberation Army which is positioned deep inside, the Indian Army physically dominates every hill top, ridge and watershed along the 3488 km long border.
"They (the Chinese) can afford to stay behind because they know India won't be the aggressor and also they have better infrastructure and can move faster than we can," said a top military commander who did not want to be named.
Surviving and manning the heights requires a different kind of training.
Each solider goes through a staged induction and training process. It begins at 9000 ft in Tenga, Arunahcal Pradesh, and from there the the soldiers in training shift to Tawang at heights of 12000 and 14000 to 15000 ft.
The second stage begins at Maratha Ground, high up in the hills. Temperatures here below zero and thin air, this is where second stage of acclimatization begins. Besides the regular training - which includes the daily run in full battle gear every soldier also learns Wushu - a Chinese form of unarmed combat.
At these heights it is a fight with yourself. "It is all in the mind," says Colonel Singh, adding, "Here and in the ridges which are above 15000 ft, physical fitness is just one part. It is mental toughness that sees us through."
The Army tries to make the rest comfortable. Most living quarters of soldiers are now centrally heated. Air couriers fly back soldiers going on leave and those returning to their stations.
"We cant control the terrain, the weather but we can help make the lives of soldiers slightly better," the Colonel says.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
By: NDTV
MARATHA GROUND, TAWANG: It is minus 15 degrees Celsius and snowing steadily and heavily. A section of the 14 Punjab, now the Tawang Battalion, is climbing a cliff that rises almost 90 degrees from the ground.
"Every soldier here needs these skills," says Colonel Rajesh Singh, commanding officer of the 14 Punjab as he also shouts out instructions to his boys who have by now climbed 70 or 80 feet. From where we stand, they are small dots steadily moving up the cliff.
"Bare handed is the best, it gives a better grip and feel," Colonel Singh says pointing to the lead climber, who is nearing the top.
Every team that patrols, on foot, the ridges that divide India and China, has to climb cliffs routinely. It is not easy. Some of these cliffs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) - the de-facto border with China - are over 1500 ft high. Temperatures go down below minus 30 degree Celsius. And, unlike the Chinese People's Liberation Army which is positioned deep inside, the Indian Army physically dominates every hill top, ridge and watershed along the 3488 km long border.
"They (the Chinese) can afford to stay behind because they know India won't be the aggressor and also they have better infrastructure and can move faster than we can," said a top military commander who did not want to be named.
Surviving and manning the heights requires a different kind of training.
Each solider goes through a staged induction and training process. It begins at 9000 ft in Tenga, Arunahcal Pradesh, and from there the the soldiers in training shift to Tawang at heights of 12000 and 14000 to 15000 ft.
The second stage begins at Maratha Ground, high up in the hills. Temperatures here below zero and thin air, this is where second stage of acclimatization begins. Besides the regular training - which includes the daily run in full battle gear every soldier also learns Wushu - a Chinese form of unarmed combat.
At these heights it is a fight with yourself. "It is all in the mind," says Colonel Singh, adding, "Here and in the ridges which are above 15000 ft, physical fitness is just one part. It is mental toughness that sees us through."
The Army tries to make the rest comfortable. Most living quarters of soldiers are now centrally heated. Air couriers fly back soldiers going on leave and those returning to their stations.
"We cant control the terrain, the weather but we can help make the lives of soldiers slightly better," the Colonel says.