New Delhi: More than a day after an avalanche buried ten of its personnel in Siachen Glacier, the Army on Thursday said chances of finding any survivors were "very remote."
Rescue teams though have scaled up efforts with induction of specialised teams, sniffer dogs and equipment.
Defence PRO(Northern Command) Colonel SD Goswami said in a statement: "Rescue teams are braving adverse weather and effects of rarified atmosphere to locate and rescue survivors. However, it is with deepest of regrets that we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are now very remote,"
A JCO and nine jawans of the Madras Regiment were trapped when the deadly avalanche hit the post situated at 19,600 feet in Northern Glacier sector in Ladakh region in the world's highest battlefield.
As the rescue operations by specialised teams of the Army and the Air Force entered the second day, Col Goswami said specialised equipment was flown to Leh in the morning.
The glaciated area has temperatures ranging from a minimum of minus 42 degrees Celsius in the night to maximum of minus 25 degrees C during the day.
He said that blocks of snow had fallen on the post, burying it very deep.
"To clear the same is a very difficult task", he said, adding that "building on yesterday's efforts, a very large rescue team has been deployed today to reach down till the post".
"The rescue operations have been intensified with induction of specialised teams and equipment to trace the missing Army men", the Defence PRO said.
Heavy snow cutters and special equipment are being used to clear and cut the ice blocks, as Army and IAF teams battle harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain to trace the missing soldiers.
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