Avalanche traps about 150 Pakistani soldiers

[VCheng]

I hope the message gets conveyed...

... without prolonging the torment, right?

 

[jha]

... without prolonging the torment, right?

hope so, but experience hints otherwise...

 

[Safriz]

Last 48 hours have been very Quiet...No news coming out of the disaster site?

 

[blain2]

"Hope in reality is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torments of man." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Quoting Nietzsche around hope certainly makes the case for pessimists

"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.." - MLK

For Muslims, losing hope is not an option.

 

[VCheng]

Quoting Nietzsche around hope certainly makes the case for pessimists

"We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.." - MLK

For Muslims, losing hope is not an option.

Of course, but my point is more about futile hope prolonging the agony of waiting for the families. Why complicate that by adding a veneer of hope that by now has no chance?

 

[OrionHunter]

Well Einstein how exactly do you plan to feed those ten thousand men in addition to giving them a roof. That is about a whole division you are talking about moving there. Who would have handled the air traffic of a hundred helis? And mi 26 with hundred men cannot go that highso stop posting those pictures. In short, stop being critical of something you have a limited idea about and stop making up wrong hypothesises

Spot on! Unfortunately most people don't have the faintest clue about the logistics involved and what it takes to move manpower, the strength of an entire division (as some have recommended!) over limited lines of communication (roads). 500 troop carrying vehicles, another 40 for supplying daily rations, and add to that the scores of vehicles required to get equipment out there! Most places are one way traffic considering that the area is snow bound. That means a road space requirement of more than 10kms for a convoy!!! Where you gonna park? Where you gonna turn? In other words, such a move is a non starter!

And then there's the problem of acclimatization of fresh troops who have to operate at 15,000 feet and above. That takes at least four days at 10,000 feet before you're allowed to go up to higher altitudes for deployment. Where's the time for doing that?

So, guys, please don't give bizarre unworkable solutions! Thanks!

 

[VCheng]

I have said before that speed and safety costs money.

Such forward deployments in environmentally hostile areas always increase the risk to personnel, specially when there is not a lot of investment in providing logistics such as road and air transportation infrastructure. When a disaster of this magnitude strikes, the immediate response cannot cope. When the rescue is time-critical because of oxygen and hypothermia issues, ramping up of the logistics cannot be achieved quickly enough.

If there is anything positive about this tragedy, it will be in the lessons learned to improve logistics for when the next adverse event occurs, if lessons are learnt.

 

[Safriz]

President and Prime minister and some other politicians wanted to Visit the disaster site (IK being the first to announce),
But currently bad weather preventing helicopter flights , so nobody going there except the Rescue teams.

 

[Safriz]

Media trip to Siachen cancelled due to harsh weather – The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: A media team, comprising 46 national and international journalists, that was set to fly to Siachen to report on the fatal avalanche, failed to land at the Skadu airport due to the harsh weather on Monday.

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’s was due to visit Gayari sector, to inspect rescue operations being carried by Pakistani military with international assistance, but his staff too was informed to delay the 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.

Siachen: Rescuers use controlled explosions to make tunnels - geo.tv

RAWALPINDI: The search and rescue operation continues in Siachen as rescue workers have been successful in reaching the ground on two sites and are also using controlled explosions to break solid ice to make tunnels.

139 soldiers and civilians were buried under an avalanche on April 7 in the Gayari sector of Siachen.

The scheduled visit of President Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, Army Chief Kayani and journalists to Siachen on Monday could not take place due to unsuitable weather conditions

Teams from the US and Norway have arrived at Goma, a point close to Siachen. These teams are carrying modern equipment with them which will aide in the search and rescue operation.

According to a press release issued here by the ISPR on Monday, the weather remained very harsh and posing serious challenges to the men and machines working at the avalanche site alike.

However, the spirit and zeal of courageous soldiers has not wavered under arduous conditions. In fact, the urge to help their mates stuck under avalanche has given them newfound resilience.

The skies have been continuously showering flakes of snow.

The rescue work is being carried out at full speed with sufficient number of plant equipment.

 

[blain2]

Of course, but my point is more about futile hope prolonging the agony of waiting for the families. Why complicate that by adding a veneer of hope that by now has no chance?

Agreed but you know that for the loved ones of these brave men, its not over till either their bodies are recovered or the Army calls the recovery mission over. May the loved ones find solace and patience amidst this massive tragedy.

 

[VCheng]

Agreed but you know that for the loved ones of these brave men, its not over till either their bodies are recovered or the Army calls the recovery mission over. May the loved ones find solace and patience amidst this massive tragedy.

I assure you Sir I know very well just how hard this time and this decision is going to be for all.

 

[Ark-Angel]

Hope and imagination is what keeps us strong.

 

[Jango]

Zardari ko ab yad aya hai keh Gayari main bhi kuch hua hai.

 

[notsuperstitious]

The pictures are an eye opener. Had no clue an avalance could be of such proportions and enormity.

 

[blain2]

As heartbreaking as this situation is, somehow a very popular song of the early 80s about the Army came to mind that I believe was sung by Khalid Waheed. The song was titled "Har garhi tayyar kamran hain hum" and the specific couplet that came to mind as almost ironic went something like "Sailab ho ya zalzala, janain bacchatay hain, mushkil garhi may apnnay mulk kay kaam aatay hain". Unfortunately, this time around, it was these very same saviours, those who always steadfastly helped this nation through all sorts of calamities, who have fallen victim to this sad incident.

May they rest in peace and be honoured by a grateful nation.