ISLAMABAD: At least five army personnel on Saturday went missing after anavalanche hit an army base in world’s biggest battleground, Siachen.

A rescue operation in the area has been started by the Pakistan army withthe help of locals. Heavy machinery has also been sent to accelerate therescue operation.

However, the army has still not confirmed any casualties.

In February last year, ten Indian soldiers were hit by an avalanche at thenorthern Siachen Glacier. While another four soldiers were killed by anavalanche in January last year, while in the previous year another fourdied when their vehicle was buried under an avalanche near Leh, the maincity in the high-altitude region known as Ladakh.

Avalanches and landslides are common at the Siachen Glacier during thewinter and temperatures there can drop as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.

An estimated 8,000 troops have died on the glacier since 1984, almost allof them from avalanches, landslides, frostbite, altitude sickness or heartfailure rather than combat.

At least 135 people, including 124 servicemen and 11 civilians, wentmissing in 2012 after an avalanche hit them at Gayari sector near SiachenGlacier.