No lowering of guard despite snowfall in JK

Srinagar, Feb 6: There will be no question of lowering the guard on the Line of Control (LoC) despite unprecedented snowfall, threat of avalanches and biting cold, a defence spokesman said.

He said there was no report of any damage to fencing and pickets on the LoC.

However, in view of the avalanche threat, Army authorities have decided not to use porters in the danger zones as the bodies of soldiers and porters, who were buried under huge snow avalanche in Uri sector early last month, were still untraceable, the spokesman told UNI.

The troops will remain deployed in their post near the LoC and there was no question of lowering the guard because of avalanche threat following heavy snowfall, the added.

He said Army forward posts near the LoC have been established in the areas, where there is minimum threat of avalanche.

''Though there are less chances of infiltration from the Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) after the routes were closed due to ten to 15 feet of snowfall, there is no question of withdrawing troops from the forward posts, '' the spokesman said.

He said troops deployed on the LoC and other heights, which remain very cold during winter months, were fully equipped to meet the challenge.

The spokesman said since 1999, when Pakistani intruders occupied major heights in Drass and Kargil sectors during winters, troops remained deployed there throughout the year. ''We do not want another Kargil,'' he added.

Despite minus 40 degrees temperature and heavy snowfall, troops were guarding the border. However, they have been supplied clothes and food on par with the soldiers deployed on the Siachen glacier, he said.

UNI