Modi in Siachen to meet Indian troops for Diwali

[HAIDER]

SRINAGAR: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a rare visit to the Siachen glacier in the disputed Kashmir region Thursday to rally the morale of troops after recent deadly border clashes with Pakistan.

As India celebrated the festival of Diwali, Modi travelled to the remote glacier to greet soldiers based at what has been dubbed the world's highest battleground ahead of a visit to the state capital which was devastated by floods last month.

In a post on his Twitter feed, Modi said it was “my good fortune that I will be able to spend time with our brave soldiers on this special day”.

“Am going to Siachen with a message from each and every Indian to our soldiers — that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you!” he added.

Television footage later showed Modi meeting and greeting troops in Siachen which has previously been the scene of fierce fighting between India and Pakistan.

Both countries administer parts of Kashmir but claim sovereignty over the whole of the picturesque Himalayan region which has been a running sore between the two sides ever since independence.

At least 20 civilians died in cross-border skirmishes in Kashmir earlier this month, with both sides blaming the other for provoking the firing.

After his trip to Siachen, Modi will head to Srinagar which last month bore the brunt of the region's worst flooding in some six decades.

More than 450 people were killed in India and Pakistan when the floods swept through Kashmir and Pakistan's Punjab province.

The provincial government in Indian-held Kashmir has been heavily criticised for its response to the flooding and shopkeepers were observing a strike on Thursday to mark Modi's visit.

Provincial polls are scheduled to take place before the end of the year and Modi's visit has been dismissed by opponents as an election stunt.

However, many observers say that the elections are likely to be postponed as a result of the floods.
dawn.com

 

[Not Sure]

 

[SrNair]

That soldiers got on of their best Diwali Gift.

 

[ito]

Modi will spend diwali with kashmiris this year.

 

[Parul]

Modi will spend diwali with kashmiris this year.

He is already their in Kashmir.

 

[third eye]

 

[thesolar65]

If Siachin becomes peaceful, who would like to visit that place with me?? Mr. Modi is a lucky fellow to visit that place. I think because of regular yoga, he is fit for the visit!!

 

[Krishna Sharma]

Man or Beast watch The COAS of India with no jacket nothing.
Only near the helicopter he seen wearing a jacket.
Salute to this great man Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag.

 

[Storm Force]

Great to see modi in our saichen glacier with our troops.

I love Modi nationalistic attitude

 

[Krishna Sharma]

Dont take him into consideration.
If u take him into consideration the u ll have no chance to praise others!!!!!!!!

 

[OrionHunter]

If Siachin becomes peaceful, who would like to visit that place with me?? Mr. Modi is a lucky fellow to visit that place. I think because of regular yoga, he is fit for the visit!!

You still would not be able to, unless you get a lift in a chopper both ways! It takes hours by road and thus you'd need to spend the night out there in the freezing cold in high altitude. You would thus need to first acclimatize at the base camp for 7 days before you would be allowed to visit the Glacier. Otherwise be prepared to get high altitude Pulmonary Edema which is life threatening. Gasping for breath like you're underwater is no fun, I assure you.

 

[thesolar65]

You still would not be able to, unless you get a lift in a chopper both ways! It takes hours by road and thus you'd need to spend the night out there in the freezing cold in high altitude. You would thus need to first acclimatize at the base camp for 7 days before you would be allowed to visit the Glacier. Otherwise be prepared to get high altitude Pulmonary Edema which is life threatening. Gasping for breath like you're underwater is no fun, I assure you.

There goes by dream!! Yeh sab kya bolna tha??

 

[Omega007]

You still would not be able to, unless you get a lift in a chopper both ways! It takes hours by road and thus you'd need to spend the night out there in the freezing cold in high altitude. You would thus need to first acclimatize at the base camp for 7 days before you would be allowed to visit the Glacier. Otherwise be prepared to get high altitude Pulmonary Edema which is life threatening. Gasping for breath like you're underwater is no fun, I assure you.

Hey sir,what is the average altitude of the glacier??

You still would not be able to, unless you get a lift in a chopper both ways! It takes hours by road and thus you'd need to spend the night out there in the freezing cold in high altitude. You would thus need to first acclimatize at the base camp for 7 days before you would be allowed to visit the Glacier. Otherwise be prepared to get high altitude Pulmonary Edema which is life threatening. Gasping for breath like you're underwater is no fun, I assure you.

Hey sir,what is the average altitude of the glacier??

 

[OrionHunter]

Hey sir,what is the average altitude of the glacier??

The Glacier proper starts from an altitude of 18,875 ft at its head at Indira Col on the China border down to 11,875 ft at its terminus.

The crests of the Saltoro Ridge, West of the Glacier on which the IA is mostly deployed ranges from 17,880 feet to 25,330 feet. The landscape is pretty foreboding! Not for the faint hearted!

Here's a map to give you an idea...

Pakistan is nowhere near Siachen. They are far West of even the Saltoro Ridge!