Junior Indian defence minister, Jitendra Singh by laying a floral wreath at the War Memorial.
Siachan, February 18,(Scoop News)-Junior Indian defence minister, Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday visited troops located at Siachen Glacier,a senior defence official told Scoop News from Partapur, the base camp of the glacier.
He said the visit was hailed as a great morale-booster for the troops deployed in the Siachen Glacier since the sector is experiencing harsh winters and the temperatures are dipping up to fifty degrees below freezing point. The minister was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding Fire and Fury Corps.
The official said Siachen Glacier has been actively defended by own troops since 1984 in a special operation named ‘Operation Meghdoot’. The sector has seen a large number of sacrifices and acts of gallantry since then, he said.
The minister also carried out an aerial survey of the entire area and also landed at two forward posts on the glacier and interacted with the troops deployed there.
Upon his arrival at the Siachen Base Camp, Jitendra Singh paid homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their life in the sector, by laying a floral wreath at the War Memorial.
Later he was briefed about the military situation in Glacier and all along the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), the official said.
In his address to the troops at the Siachen Base Camp, he applauded the efforts put in by the valiant soldiers for the defence of the country’s frontiers and said that the best of equipment, clothing and rations will continue to be provided to ensure their high degree of operational preparedness.
The official said the minister explicitly conveyed his happiness over the efforts put in by the army in rising up to the challenges presented by the peculiar terrain and harsh weather conditions in the area.
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