The Indian Army is currently searching for seven personnel who have gone missing after an avalanche hit the Kameng sector of Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday. The Army reported that the missing personnel were part of a patrol in the high-altitude area and that search and rescue operations are underway, with specialized teams airlifted to assist.

The Army also mentioned that the area has been experiencing severe weather conditions with heavy snowfall in recent days. Patrolling in high-altitude areas during winter can be challenging, and the Army has previously lost soldiers in similar incidents. For example, in May 2020, two soldiers died after being caught in an avalanche in Sikkim.

In October last year, five Navy personnel were caught in an avalanche on Mt Trishul in Uttarakhand during an expedition, and their remains were recovered later. Additionally, in February 2020, the government informed Parliament that six Army personnel had died due to avalanches and snow-slides in the Siachen Glacier in 2019, with 11 others killed in similar incidents elsewhere.

The government stated that armed forces personnel deployed in high-altitude regions receive training in mountain craft, ice craft, survival in glaciated terrain, and handling medical emergencies. They are also equipped with modern tools such as helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, snow scooters, avalanche detectors, and mountain clothing to tackle operational challenges.