Staff Report

GAYARI, Siachen: Pakistan army on Tuesday declared all 136 soldiers as Shuhada, 52 days after they were buried under snow as a result of a massive avalanche in Gayari sector at Siachen, SAMAA reports.

The military says there is no probability of recovering any person alive. However, army authority vowed to carry on the search operation during which three out of 139 soldiers’ bodies were recovered.

“It has been decided to declare the remaining brave soldiers as Shuhada. This is being done with mixed feelings of pride, grief and above all unflinching resolve to continue all out efforts to recover the bodies of all shuhada,” ISPR said on Monday.

“Notwithstanding the resolve of troops employed on search operations, excavation work is taking time due to constraints imposed by terrain and weather,” the ISPR said in a statement.

“Bodies of three shuhada have been recovered so far. Nature and magnitude of the calamity is suggestive of no probability of recovering any person alive,” the statement said.

ISPR said the step was taken after consultation with religious leaders in order to reduce sufferings of bereaved families. -- SAMAA