Army Provides 1 Lakh Kit to Jawans Deployed Around Siachen Glacier

Indian Army is now providing jawans a personal kit worth around Rs 1 lakh each during their deployment on the world’s highest battlefield Siachen glacier to fight harsh weather conditions.

The kit includes equipment worth around Rs 1.5 lakhs for survival and moving around the Siachen glacier during the deployment.

The equipment and the personal kit of the troops were closely checked by Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane during the Siachen trip in the second week of January.

The most expensive part of the personal kit of soldiers includes the multilayered extreme winter clothing which costs around Rs 28,000 per set along with the special sleeping bag which is worth around Rs 13,000.

The down jacket and the special gloves of troops together cost around Rs 14,000 while the multipurpose shoes cost around Rs 12,500.

Of the equipment provided to the troops, the oxygen cylinder costs Rs 50,000 per piece which is very important at those altitudes as the oxygen levels are very low there.

The soldiers also get equipment and gadgets for detecting avalanche victims which costs around Rs 8,000.

Avalanches are frequent occurrences in the glacier which receives very heavy snowfall during the year.

India has been deploying forces at the heights ranging from 17,000 feet to 22,000 feet for more than three decades now at the Siachen glacier which was attempted to be usurped by the Pakistan Army. The Pakistani have ceded a significant chunk of their territory to the Chinese near the Siachen glacier area and Army top brass feels the area is strategically important for keeping enemy designs in check.

Source: IT

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