Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh marked the occasion of Holi by joining soldiers in Leh for the celebrations. Originally scheduled to visit Siachen, bad weather conditions redirected the Defence Minister to Leh instead.
The Siachen Glacier, situated at an altitude of approximately 20,000 ft height above sea level in the Karakoram range, is recognized as the most elevated militarized zone globally. Here, soldiers face challenges such as frostbite and strong winds. Winter seasons at the glacier often witness avalanches and landslides, with temperatures plummeting to as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.
During the festivities, Rajnath Singh participated in applying gulal to the soldiers. He was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps Lt Gen Rashim Bali.
Mr. Singh expressed admiration for the soldiers’ unwavering dedication in harsh high-altitude environments, emphasizing that their commitment surpasses the extreme cold temperatures. He likened Ladakh to India’s capital of courage and valour, drawing parallels to Delhi as the national capital, Mumbai as the financial capital, and Bengaluru as the technology capital.
