Sunday, February 20 2005 16:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Partapur (Siachen): Piping-hot Biryani on the world's highest battlefield seems like a dream come true.

Thanks to the efforts of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), troops stationed at Siachen Glacier in freezing conditions are now being served hot pre-cooked food.

"We are serving pre-cooked food, particularly Biryani, under new food scheme to the troops guarding Siachen Glacier and some other Kargil heights in Ladakh frontier region," Army officials told sources in Siachen.

The DRDO has prepared the pre-cooked foods which have been tested in Ladakh region, they said.

The food is kept in a packet and some chemical in another pocket outside it. When water is added to the outside pocket, the food content boils up and hot food is ready to be consumed.

The food is prepared according to the nutrition requirements of the soldiers who are working under the most hostile conditions, they said.

Milk is already being provided in tetra bags, they said adding more change in diets for Siachen soldiers are being explored. Cold fatalities in Siachen region have almost become zero with the use of most modern and advanced medical equipment and speedy evacuation of casualities by the authorities, they said.

There was no cold or pulmonary death in the 42-km long Siachen sector last year due to better facilities provided at Leh and Partappur hospitals. The 153-bed hospital at Partappur has been connected with northern command hospital at Udhampur.