Media trip to Siachen cancelled due to harsh weather
Air control tower informed aviation authorities that landing the C130 military cargo plane at Skardu airport could be dangerous as more than 55 people were onboard.
Media representatives have been persistent on undertaking a trip to the icy post to report on the incident further, however, weather conditions did not allow them. An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) official said that they tried their best to fly media to Siachen and the plane even reached Skardu, the closest air strip, but could not land due to weather conditions. He added that the weather did not allow even helicopters to fly out. Media personnel would have had to board choppers to reach Gayari, site of the avalanche tragedy.
The military official added that the visit has been postponed and will be rescheduled according to weather reports.
However, the Pakistan Meteorological Department does not expect the weather to pick up any time soon with rain/thunderstorm expected over the next 24 hours in Gilgit-Baltistan and surrounding areas.
President Asif Ali Zardari was due to visit Gayari sector, to inspect rescue operations being carried by Pakistani military with international assistance, but his staff too was informed of delays given the adverse weather situation.
Similarly, the visit of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is also waiting for the weather to lift, allowing aviation authorities to clear a trip to Siachen.
Weather, cold nothwithstanding, Jawans soldier on
Search and rescue operations at Gayari continue round the clock despite extreme odds.
According to a press release issued here by ISPR on Monday, the weather remained very harsh and posed serious challenges to the men and machines working at the avalanche site.
“The rescue work is being carried out at full speed with sufficient number of plant equipment. The exasperating work at the tunnel being dug in the compact snow of avalanche, needed to access a suspected structure to find survivors, has made good progress by using explosives. A team of German and Swiss rescuers is also rendering useful help in conforming already available data to locate the survivors,” read the statement.
COMMENTS (16)
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Let the Army do their job.. We know that our brave soldiers have lost their lives under the snow.Lets support Army work.Why exactly media want to go there?What good will it bring except their channel publicity/rating,its not a picnic spot forGOD sake ,they shouldn't be allowed.General Kiyani has visited the scene ,he ordered what he could.Now lets leave them alone.
The Pakistan Army needs to stop supporting terrorists killing innocent Shia Muslims across Pakistan and needs to rescue these people.
Declare the site as national cemetery and let army move out of Siachen for good. Money not worth spending,
Pakistani army should fight terrorists in North Waziristan.
The President and The Prime Minister must accompany the COAS and Head of ISI. Our prayers are with the solders and civilian suffering from this tragedy.
I think people need to move on. What probability is there to find anyone alive? Even if there are any concrete bunkers that could protect from ice & debris, what about oxygen. I might sound heartless, but we should not lose more soldiers & people in harsh weather conditions. At least ensure those working are absolutely safe. Every soldier has a family to feed & fend.
@Kaiser, have heard that NS is going there tomorrow. With all differences I have about him, i appreciate this. Very sad of others, we must consider them sons of this soil.
@Kaiser: right
@Born Political: Dear Brother I bet our political leadership does not have the will or stamina to stay for one day in the icy conditions at Gyari.I wish they do go there and stay there for ever. Just imagine the defence Minister has yet to plan a visit.Actually they need to acclimatise to the high altitude conditions before they can survive at those heights. They are also scared of yet another avalanche which may be waiting for them. Poor politicians! scared of tsunamis and avalanches!
@Ch Allah Daad. Bro, these premiers must visit the area and up the morale of soldiers. Remember Chile president stayed at the site for 7 days when their 32 miners were stuck underground.
Media must not be allowed to go there, there is no need to send them, they will just become burden and military is already doing its best to save men working day and night, we dont wanna hear sad stories from media for which they will compete with each other in race of rating and profiteering. This is the time for prayer and to encourage those families, those mothers whose son's are buried. May Allah keep them safe and sound
@Ch Allah Daad: correct ur figures more than 500 men are working their day and night including local people too
After nine days of extensive search operation and due to harsh weather, the buried soldiers could not be found whether dead or alive.
Even the weather did not allowed the President, Prime Minister and the Journalist to go over there.
People who want to visit the site should have patients similarly to the legal heirs of buried soldiers.
The entire operation is depending on the weather and nothing else.
We must appreciate the efforts of our Jawans who are at Gyari and doing the rescue work despite harsh weather conditions.
@Ch Allah Daad: 60-70 locals are already working there. These sensitive bed room journalists will hardly be able to survive the weather.
Thank god ET didnt said that there is something they are trying to hide from media, ET no more conspiracies and army bashing
Stop these useless but expensive visits and send some real help. There are thousands of tough and brave Skardu people availabe to dig. Give them money and resources instead of entertaining these jounalists and dignatries.