CASUALTIES CAUSED BY AVALANCHES
LOK SABHA
Avalanches in the
snow bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir are a regular occurrence
during winter months. There was unprecedented heavy snowfall during
last winter. The Indian Army suffered 53 casualties during the
period January 01, 2003 to November 26, 2003.
All necessary measures
have been adopted to avoid avalanche related casualties, which
include re-siting of posts from avalanche prone areas, selection
of routes to avoid avalanche prone sites, movement to take place
during early morning hours in areas susceptible to avalanches,
avoiding movement during avalanche warning period, artificial
triggering of avalanches by firing of artillery rounds and rockets.
Snow and Avalanches
Studies Establishment is in touch with the research laboratories
of other countries like Switzerland, USA, Canada etc. They have
been following the same technology for fighting this menace, though
with, certain modifications, necessitated due to ground conditions
like high altitude and intense weather system.
This information
was given by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes in a written
reply Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia in Lok Sabha today.
