Seven Indian soldiers have died after being hit by an avalanche on the Chinese border in the remote north-eastern Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh.
They were on a routine foot patrol in the high-altitude Kameng sector along the Line of Actual Control — the disputed border between India and China — when the avalanche struck on Sunday, the Indian Army said.
The soldiers were reported missing after the incident on Sunday and rescue attempts were made.
But the army said on Tuesday that they had been killed and their bodies had been recovered from the avalanche site.
Several emergency teams were flow in to help with the rescue operation in a region that has recorded heavy snowfall for several days.
Avalanches are common in the upper reaches of Himalayas during the winter months.
Last May, two Indian soldiers were killed after they were hit by an avalanche in Sikkim, another Himalayan state.
In October, seven trekkers were found dead after falling into a gorge following heavy snowfall near the 5,200-metre Lamkhaga Pass.
The Indian Army has enhanced its military presence in the remote state located on the border with China's Tibet region following several standoffs between Indian and Chinese forces in recent years.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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