'PM Narendra Modi, please beware of Siachen diseases'

Srinagar, August 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Indian Army's forward posts in the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, during his tour of Ladakh in August.

[Read: PM to visit Siachen Glacier after 9 years]

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Modi was invited by former Army chief Gen Bikram Singh to visit the Siachen Glacier to boost the morale of the troops and show solidarity with them.

In an exclusive chat with OneIndia, an Indian army soldier on the condition of anonymity said that Mr Prime Minister should be prepared as there is a threat of getting various disease at high altitude, due to severe weather conditions.

Pulmonary edema, cerebral edema and hypothermia are common diseases at Siachen.

"Some of the common disease that can occur at Siachen glacier are pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, hypothermia, moderate hypothermia and severe hypothermia", the soldier said.

Army posts are located in the Siachen at altitudes ranging from 17,000 feet to 23,000 feet along the Actual Ground Postioning Line (AGPL) with Pakistan.

The former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh visited Siachen, nine years ago in 2005.

OneIndia News