Seven army personnel reported missing after being hit by an avalanche on Sunday while patrolling in the Kameng sector of Arunachal Pradesh were found dead near the site of the avalanche, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

The deceased belonged to the 19th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. They were on a routine foot patrol along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang Sector bordering China.

Defence PRO Lt Col Harsh Wardhan Pande broke the news that all seven have died. “Search and rescue operations launched immediately, including airlifting of specialised teams, have ended. Bodies of all seven individuals have been recovered from the avalanche site. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, all seven have been confirmed dead,” he said in a statement.

The area, located at an altitude of 14,500ft, had been witnessing inclement weather with heavy snowfall for the past few days.

“The bodies of the soldiers are currently being transferred from the avalanche site to the nearest Army medical facility for further formalities,” Pande said in the statement.

No other details were issued till late in the evening.

Those familiar with the frontier state said the Kameng Sector, which borders China, covers West Kameng, East Kameng and Tawang districts. They also said it gets tough to patrol during winter of the high altitude and inclement weather.

Condoling the deaths, Arunachal Pradesh governor Brigadier B. D. Mishra (Retd.), who was closely monitoring the search and rescue operation since February 6 along with top Army Commanders, said: “ The enterprise of these brave hearts to secure the territorial integrity of our motherland, inspite of the vagaries of the weather and the difficulty of the terrain will always inspire us and it will be remembered by the people of Arunachal Pradesh and also the Nation.”

The 19th Battalion of Jammu and Kashmir Rifles received the governor’s citation at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar on February 4 for their professional competence and élan, which they have displayed in their operational role while deployed on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. The soldiers of the Battalion, by their grit, round the clock surveillance and appreciable bravery, have been maintaining the highest order of sanctity of the LAC, a Raj Bhavan statement said.

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu tweeted: “ Deeply saddened by the loss of lives of 7 brave Indian Army Jawans, who were trapped in an avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families on their tragic loss. May God give them enough strength to bear the irreparable loss. #OmShanti”