RAWALPINDI: Three persons including an Army Captain, a soldier and a civilian embraced martyrdom after a snow slide struck then an overnight during a snow clearance operation at Burzil Pass.

The snow clearance operation was being carried out in the wee hours of Saturday to remove heavy snowfall using machinery in order to facilitate the operational movement of troops in the area, said a news release issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

“The snow clearance operation was led by Captain Asmad (age, 28 years and resident of Lahore). At around 2 AM on 03 January 26, while subject operation was ongoing, a snow slide triggered, resultantly Captain Asmad along with a soldier and civilian machine operator (PWD) got entrapped. After intensive efforts, they were rescued from snow; however, the condition of Captain Asmad, Sepoy Rizwan (age 32 years, resident of Attock) and Machine Operator Essa (resident of Astore) deteriorated and all three embraced Shahadat,” it further said.

These individuals rendered ultimate sacrifice by leading a challenging operation, in extreme weather conditions, to facilitate operational movement of forces.

Their sacrifice and devotion to duty is testimony to the fact that all ranks of Pakistan Armed forces are determined to defend the motherland and will not hesitate to lay down their lives in the line of duty and devotion to cause, the release said.(Agencies)