MoD women fare better than men at Siachen

Three officials were then sent up to the Glacier, after which the Defence Minister’s order was issued. “But this is not a punishment order, and should not be taken as such,” a senior MoD official had then said. The latest area familiarisation trip to Siachen involved four officials from the Finance Division of the MoD taking the weekly Air Force courier flight to Leh. And from thereproceeding by road, over the Khardungla pass, to the Siachen area. The Defence Minister had taken the road route during his October 1998 visit to the war zone. Even before the aircraft took off for Leh, said a South Block source, one of the male officials dropped out citing medical reasons. “He was diagnosed as having high blood pressure by a doctor,” said an MoD official. That left two woman officials and a male bureaucrat on the flight. But he too dropped out soon enough, said the sources.

As soon as the aircraft reached Leh, said the sources, the sole remaining male official “complained of feeling too cold to move any further from Leh,” they added. “He took the same courier back as he could not take the temperatures” said the official.

These quick drop outs have left the two lady officials as the only remaining members of the team in Leh. But they are not going any further, said the sources. The woman officials are also believed to be suffering from high blood pressure, and are currently admittedin the Military Hospital at Leh.

“The doctors there have advised them not to go any further, and so they are in the hospital,” said the official. They are expected to return to New Delhi by the next courier flight, said the sources.