Frozen in time: Body of Indian soldier recovered from Siachen glacier after 21 years

New Delhi: The frozen body of a soldier in the Indian Army, who went missing 21 years ago at the Siachen glacier was found on Sunday by patrolling defence personnel.

Havildar Tukaram V Patil went missing on February 27, 1993, while moving from his post to the supply point. He had had fallen into a ravine, according to Army sources and was believed dead. A resident of Maharashtra's Sangli district, his body did not decompose because of the sub-zero temperatures.

His body was identified by a letter from his family and a medical certificate found in his pocket. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Havildar Patil’s brother, also a soldier with the Maratha Light Infantry had also died in an avalanche in 1987, however his body was never found.

Temperatures at the world's highest battleground - Siachen Glacier can drop as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.

Mortal remains of Brave Soldier, Hav TK Patil, 4 MARATHA LI recovered after 21 years from Siachen #BraveSonsofIndia pic.twitter.com/fxfJY4P31R

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 17, 2014