Chartered flights to Thoise base suspended,Siachen troops suffer

Troops posted to the glacier and those coming back on leave are now taking a long road route that takes almost a week to reach transport hubs in Jammu and Srinagar. Even though the road route was in operation before the chartered flights started operating from Thoise in 2005,there is resentment among the troops,especially those who need to proceed on emergency leave from the remote region.

While the reasons for suspension of the flights remain unclear,there are indications that red tape has held up a renewal contract for chartered flights. The Defence Ministry had floated a tender in May calling private operates that own more than ten aircraft to bid for chartered flights on the Delhi-Thoise-Delhi route. However,sources said,while efforts were on,flights had not resumed possibly due to issues regarding the price as well as disinterest of major airlines to operate on the route.

The ministry had sanctioned chartered flights by commercial airliners to the restricted Thoise airbase for the first time in 2005 to cut short travel time for the troops. Private airliners were roped in due to a shortage of transport aircraft with the IAF that was already stretched on cargo missions to support troops.

While the older road route from Jammu to the base camp would take close to a week,troops proceeding on the chartered flight would reach Siachen within a day. Based on the same model,the Army had started hiring chartered flights to several destinations,including in the North-East,to cut down travel time for troops as a goodwill gesture.

India has deployed thousands of troops on the Siachen glacier that has been under dispute since 1984. India occupies all the dominating heights in the area and has control over the Saltoro ridge but troops have to be rotated every three months from the strategic posts due to harsh climatic conditions.