Lok Sabha Question No. 336 (STARRED), answered on 2019-12-11
Subject: Loss of Lives in Avalanches
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 336

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  December, 2019

## LOSS OF LIVES IN AVALANCHES

*336. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether a number of soldiers and civilians have lost their lives in a massive avalanche in Siachen recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  provided  assistance  to  the  family  members  of  the deceased and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  any  precautionary  steps  have  been  taken  to  safeguard  against  such eventualities and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the number of soldiers who lost their lives due to avalanches in the hilly States during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- (e)  whether  more  than  a  decade  long  field  testing  and  trials  by  Defence  Research Development  Organisation  (DRDO)  on  Wearable  Physiological  Monitoring  System (WPMS) to  predict  avalanches  and  protect  the  soldiers  from  the  avalanches  is  not proving  fruitful  and  if  so,  the  present  status  of  WPMS  and  the  time  by  which  it  is likely to be developed and used for the benefit of soldiers of the country?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SHRI RAJNATH SINGH)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jh राजनाथ स िंह )

(a) to (e):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e)  OF  LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  336  FOR  ANSWER  ON  11.12.2019 REGARDING 'LOSS OF LIVES IN AVALANCHES.

(a)    In  the  current  year,  there  have  been  06  fatal  casualties  of  Army  personnel  till 01 December, 2019 due to recent Avalanche in Siachen area.  Also there were 02 fatal casualties of civilians due to avalanche in Siachen on 18 th November, 2019.

(b)    Assistance  to  Next  of  Kin  is  provided  by  the  Government  as  per  the  policy  in vogue.

(c)  All Personnel inducted into High Altitude regions are provided adequate training in mountain craft, ice craft and survival in glaciated terrain in mountain, coping with any eventuality like avalanches.  They are also taught to handle medical emergencies. Troops  are  suitably  equipped  to  undertake  the  operational  challenges  and  carry  out their mandated tasks.  The various modern technological equipments being utilised by own troops include the following:-

- (i) Helicopters,
- (ii) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,
- (iii) Snow Scooters,
- (iv) Avalanche Detectors and
- (v) Mountain clothing & equipment

Weather conditions in the snow bound areas of J&K are also closely monitored by  the  Snow  and  Avalanche  Study  Establishment  (SASE)  station  at  Sasoma  and Srinagar.  Due cognizance is taken of weather warnings issued by the SASE. (d)  There were 18 fatal casualties in year 2016, 30 fatal casualties in year 2017, 06 fatal casualties in year 2018 and 16 fatal casualties in year 2019 (till 01.12.2019) of soldiers occurred due to avalanche/snow slide in Siachen and other areas. (e)    DRDO  has  successfully  developed  the  Wearable  Physiological  Monitoring System (WPMS) for monitoring of physiological data of soldiers.  However, WPMS

is not related to avalanche prediction and protection.

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