Troops deployed at high altitude equipped with modern gadgets: Defence Ministry

New Delhi, Dec 10: Defence Ministry Friday informed the parliament that troops deployed in high altitude areas are suitably equipped with modern gadgets which include Avalance Victim Detectors, Trackers, and Ricoh Reflectors besides the condition is closely monitored in snowbound Jammu and Kashmir areas.
The Defence Ministry was replying to the queries raised in the ongoing session of parliament which include gadgets provided to the Indian Army including the avalanche advance alert gadgets and the details.
The Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Defence responded to the queries saying that required gadgets are provided to the troops besides due cognizance is taken of weather warnings.
In a written reply to the parliament, the MoS said that the troops deployed in high altitude areas are suitably equipped with modern gadgets to include Avalanche Victim Detectors, Trackers and Ricoh reflectors.
“Apart from this, weather conditions in snow bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) are closely monitored by Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) stations at Sasoma and Srinagar,” the minister said.
He said that due cognizance is taken of weather warnings and the same is communicated to troops in real time.
“Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE) established under the aegis of DRDO has a well-established mechanism to provide advance warning of avalanches in mountain regions to all concerned including BRO,” the Union Minister said.
“The establishment has a series of observatories and automated weather stations in the mountain regions which are operational in avalanche prone areas.”
The Union Minister informed that DGRE has established 39 observatories in J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh & Sikkim and additional 10 are being established.
He also said that routine meteorology data collected at these observatories is collated at DGRE, Chandigarh and based on this Avalanche Warning Bulletin is subsequently forwarded to all concerned in near real time.
“Avalanche warnings issued by DGRE assist troops in operational planning and safeguarding against impending avalanches,” the Minister said.