The Indian Army’s High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) has successfully recovered the remains of three soldiers lost in a tragic mountaineering accident last year. The special mission, codenamed Operation RTG, concluded on July 8, nearly nine months after the initial incident.
The operation was launched to retrieve the bodies of Havildar Rohit Kumar, Havildar Thakur Bahadur Ale, and Naik Gautam Rajbanshi, who were part of a 38-member HAWS expedition to Mount Kun in Ladakh.
On October 8, 2023, the team was struck by a sudden avalanche at an altitude of over 18,300 feet, resulting in the loss of four members. While one body was recovered immediately, the other three remained trapped in a deep crevasse.
Refusing to abandon their fallen comrades, HAWS initiated Operation RTG on June 18, 2024. The mission involved 88 expert mountaineers who faced extreme weather conditions and treacherous terrain. Led by Brigadier SS Shekhawat, Deputy Commandant of HAWS, the team established multiple camps and used advanced equipment to conduct their search.
A road head camp was established about 40 kms short of Khumbathang, for deposition of specialised mountaineering and rescue equipment, special clothing, survival kits, tents, meals, etc. Two helicopters were also placed on standby to ferry the mortal remains of the bravehearts and for evacuation of rescue team, if need be.
A Base Camp was established at a distance of approximately 13 Kms from the road head at a height of about 14790ft. Maj Gen Bruce Fernandez, Commandant, HAWS, stationed himself at Base Camp, overseeing the rescue efforts.
After weeks of grueling effort, the team made a breakthrough on July 4, when the mortal remains of Havildar Rohit Kumar (Dogra Scouts) were found about 30 ft of a snow and ice in the crevasse. The mortal remains were transported to Kumbathang by helicopter.
With renewed resolve, the team, braving challenges posed by extremities of cold and terrain, went 10 ft deeper in the crevasse, where mortal remains of Havildar Thakur Bahadur Ale (Gorkha Rifles) was recovered on 7 July.
Mission aim was finally accomplished on 8 July, as the mortal remains of all three trapped soldiers were recovered and no Team Member was left behind.
The mortal remains have been transported to respective families, with full military honours.
(Inputs from ANI)