The highest combat zone on planet earth, Siachen glacier is one place where fewer soldiers have died on the line duty due to enemy fire than because of the harsh weather conditions. For Indian forces deployed in Siachen, it is less of a challenge to watch out for the frail Pakistani forces but to just stay atop this 76 kilometers long glacier at 5, 400 meters altitude (nearly twice the altitude of Ladakh and Kargil) in itself means you have to defy all of your physical, mental and spiritual limits. You have to be a super soldier, a hero. And that’s what each one of our soldiers out there at Siachen glacier and on posts at even greater heights really is!

5. Speech blurring is as obvious as toothpaste freezing in the tube

It’s fiercer than heaviest of gunfire any day. But our soldiers have taken up the challenge nonetheless.

6. Snowstorms in Siachen can last 3 weeks.

Winds here can cross the 100 mph limit in no time. The temperature can drop well below minus 60 degrees.