Srinagar: The body of an Indian Army soldier has been recovered from Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir, 18 years after he was reported missing from the world's highest battlefield.
Havaldar Gaya Prasad, a native of Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, had gone missing while on duty on Siachen Glacier in 1996, an Army official said.
“The body of the soldier was recovered last week. He went missing at Siachen Glacier 18 years ago,” the official said. The soldier's body will be flown to Chandigarh and from there to his native village in Uttar Pradesh by road, he said.
Although it was not immediately clear how the soldier had died, it is presumed that he might have been swept away by an avalanche, the officer said, adding, Prasad was posted with 15 Rajput unit of the Army when he had gone missing.
Siachen is known as the world's highest battleground, situated at an altitude of 5,700 metres.
The extreme low temperature - which can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius during winter - has caused thousands of deaths since 1984 when India and Pakistan stationed their troops on the Glacier.
