Lolab (J-K) Feb 21 : Braving the chill and snow, the soldiers deployed in the border area of Lolab Valley in Jammu and Kashmir are undeterred by freezing sub-zero temperatures as they go about patrolling the region to keep a check on infiltration.

The soldiers have to remain highly alert and active as they conduct regular patrols and lie in wait for ambushes.

"It would be wrong to say that we don't face any difficulties. The temperature sometimes falls down to minus six, minus seven, and when we sit in an ambush our legs get chilled. But we are trained in such a manner that we can face such challenges with ease," said Major M.A. Khan.

"The Central Government supplies us with enough warm clothes and boots, so we manage to fight the cold," added Khan.

Once back from the patrolling, the soldiers are given special treatment after their outing in the cold environs.

The security authorities say that militants from across the Line of Control (LoC) attempt infiltration by taking advantage of snow in the difficult terrain during winters, but army patrols usually foil them.

"There is around four to five feet snow in the region, especially in the upper reaches of the mountains. We face difficulties when we have to climb the mountains to check out on militants' hideouts, but we motivate our soldiers to climb the mountains in such conditions so that we can check out militant hideouts," said Vishwas Rao, a commanding officer.

ANI