In Pics: Soldiers brave harsh climate to guard 1.2 billion people

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnels are those who guard the frontier battling with the harsh climate- rain, snow or landslides. Recently, at least 100 women ITBP personnel have been deployed at 15 border posts along the arduous Sino-India frontier, making it the first such posting of 'mahila' combatants in a forward area.

What do you know about ITBP Jawans?

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of India, raised on 24 October 1962, under the CRPF Act, in the wake of the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The ITBP was intended for deployment along India's border with China's Tibet region.

What are they specialized in?

ITBP is a specialized mountain force and most of the officers are professionally trained mountaineers and skiers. Being the first responder for natural disaster in the Himalayas, the ITBP has been carrying out numerous rescue and relief operations.

ITBP troops deployed in border:

The ITBP is deployed on border guarding duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh covering 3,488 km of Indo-China borde.

Snow and lack of oxygen deadlier than bullets, bombs

According to data, over 50% of disabled ITBP jawans and officers which guards the Sino-Indian border in the higher reaches of the Himalayas, have either suffered amputation of limbs or paralysis due to extremely harsh weather conditions.