An accidental touch of the weapon's cold metal in the surcharged atmosphere and the trouble for the perched up troopers starts. Their senses are so numb with cold that they don't immediately feel the fallout, but as they return to their base, it slowly dawns on them that they have got frostbites.

Inevitably, the next few weeks are spent in agony, both physical as well as psychological. They are given first aid but their evacuation becomes necessary, which can only be done by a chopper. The affected parts of their body, mostly hands and feet, swell up or get blisters before they turn black. There is continuous pain or a burning sensation, followed by the grim prospect of even amputation.

Precautions and training notwithstanding, almost 150 soldiers are frostbitten every year atop the world's highest battlefield, which they often refer to as ``Safed Pani'' and dread as much as ``Kala Pani'' in the Andamans.

After they are ``grounded'', their first destination for a long stint of recovery is the Western Command Hospital at Chandimandir adjoining Chandigarh. Many of them speak very little but their eyes convey the pain and the horror they have been through in the inhospitable terrain. They have lost weight and their faces are haggard.

``My hand caved into the snow when I tried to regain my balance after slipping while patrolling. Since we had to remove the outer mitten, the woollen gloves got wet, leading to the frostbite,'' says a jawan, showing his black, swollen fingers. But he is lucky. His frostbite has been classified as a `Grade-II' injury, which will heel with medicines and a minor reconstruction surgery.

``About 80 per cent of the officers and jawans afflicted by frostbite or other high-altitude ailments come to us here,'' says Maj Gen Virendra Singh, hospital commandant. ``The number keeps varying. During winters, it could go up to 20 frostbite victims in a month,'' he adds.

So far, the hospital has received about 35 patients, with only one soldier having a `Grade IV' frostbite whose toes had to be amputated to save his life from gangrene since the bones had been affected.

Visibly dejected and trying to re-adjust to ``natural surroundings'' after spending months in a surreal environment, some of them, doctors and nursing officers admit, require psychiatric counselling.

In addition to the firing, the soldiers have to contend with natural odds to survive. Blizzards with speeds of over 400 km per hour regularly rip away facial protection and gloves, exposing the skin to extreme chill, says a patient.

As a result, the blood in the exposed part freezes and expands in volume, rupturing blood vessels and cutting blood supply to the surrounding tissues. Starved of oxygen and nourishment, the tissues die and gangrene sets in.``Though the extreme cold-weather clothing and protective accessories are good, frostbite incidents are situational or occur due to carelessness,'' says a doctor at the hospital. Similarly, firing small arms wearing outer mittens is not possible.

Recalls another patient: ``It was windy and icicles had formed on the `civil' (read woolen) glove while we were returning enemy fire. Initially, the fingers just became numb and there was no feeling. When we returned, my fingers had to be dipped in warm water to restore blood circulation.''Incidents occur even during routine work. Says a non-commissioned officer, nursing his blistered back: ``I was lying with my face up on the snow to repair some equipment. Somehow, water seeped into my clothing.''

Doctors say that if the victim is evacuated within 48 hours of incurring the frostbite, he can be ``salvaged'' completely. ``Most of the cases we get here belong to `Grade I' or `Grade II'. It is only `Grade III' or `Grade IV' cases which require reconstructive surgery or amputation, says Maj Gen Singh.

``Frostbite injuries are quite painful. It takes a long to heal. They are also depressed and shocked. It is hard on them,''says a nursing officer.

``We are aware of the hardships these boys suffer. We ensure extra nourishment and calories during their stay up there. Their treatment is also a priority,'' says a surgeon. ``No soldier is posted there again after his three-month tenure".