Siachen thrown open to tourists

The Siachen Glacier, which is the world's highest battlefield, will be open to tourists.

This indication has come from none other than Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was in Ladakh on Monday, along with Army chief Bipin Rawat.

They were there to inaugurate a strategically located bridge across the Shyok River which will provide easy connectivity with the Daulat Beg Oldi sector along the Line of Actual Control with China."Ladakh has tremendous potential in tourism. Better connectivity in Ladakh would certainly bring tourists in large numbers. From Siachen Base Camp to Kumar Post, the entire area has been opened for tourism," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.

The Indian Army had been allowing expeditions to Siachen in the late 70s till they came to a total stop in 1984.The Kumar Post is at a height of more than 15,000 ft. Tourists will be able to travel from the base camp at Partapur at 11,000 feet to the Kumar Post. Sources said tourists will be given a permit to travel to these areas.

The announcement regarding the opening up of Siachen for tourists comes a few days ahead of Ladakh being declared a separate Union Territory on October 31.The Siachen Glacier, at a height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram mountain range, is the highest militarised

zone in the world where soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds. Avalanches and landslides are common during winter and temperatures can drop to as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.

The Army has lost 163 personnel at Siachen during the last 10 years. The Glacier came under the strategic control of India in 1984 following 'Operation Meghdoot'.

With influx of tourists, however, environmental issues such as disposal of waste will be a matter of concern. A surge in waste dumping will hasten glacier retreat.