Leh: The Indian Army has geared up for yet another challenge, that is, winter in Ladakh where temperature drops to -50 degrees. The jawans are being equipped with all-weather clothing and accommodation for their safety.
The jawans are being provided the best of the facilities to overcome the extreme climatic conditions in high-altitude areas amid the ongoing row with China on the border.
The Army is providing the troops deployed in high-altitude areas with multi-layered clothing. According to the Army officials, these clothing will not only help the jawans to stay safe from the chilling weather but also it will help them in hiding from the enemy.
Several kinds of equipment are being given required to climb on mountains or walk comfortably in the high altitude areas.
In the three layer clothing, the first layer consists of inner trousers and a dark-coloured jacket while in the second layer a green colour jacket and another set of trousers are given. The third layer or the outer layer, a jawan will wear a white colour jacket and trouser along with specialised shoes.
Similarly, multi-layered gloves for hands and socks are also being provided to beat the cold conditions.
” Every jawan who is deployed in the high altitude area gets 21 items. This includes special clothing, equipment, etc which are displayed,” said Lieutenant Colonel Monrak Sadh.
For the safe accommodation, the Indian Army has sufficient stock of tentages ranging from big to small. The bigger ones can hold almost a dozen jawans while the smaller ones are for a single jawan.
The tents are equipped with heaters and can keep jawans warm and safe even in -50 degree temperatures.
Even the tents are made up of multiple layers. The outside layer has a waterproof cover and the inside layer is made up of quilt fabric which helps in keeping the temperature inside high. Also, solar panels are equipped for emergency needs of electricity.
“This is the biggest depot of Ladakh where we have special tentages, clothing, heating appliances, etc which we provide to jawans. There are different tents small and big for the high altitude. These have been provided to all our jawans,” Sadh said.