Bengaluru: As more than 50,000 Indian soldiers stand guard at Ladakh in unbearable temperatures, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed several products including the Him-Taapak heating devices and snow melters for their assistance, as per ANI reports.  

It is to be noted that the Indian Army has placed an order of more than Rs 420 crore for the Him Tapak space heating device (Bukhari) that has been established for the troops stationed in Siachen and eastern Ladakh. The news agency quoted Rajeev Varshney, DRDO’s Defence Institute for Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) Director, as saying that this device will eradicate fears of backblasting and carbon monoxide poisoning, thus securing the lives of the soldiers.

Moreover, an ‘alocal cream’ that prevents frostbite chilblains and other injuries caused by cold to the troops operating in those testing circumstances has been developed by DIPAS too. A ‘flexible water bottle’ along with a ‘solar snow meter’ that will look to cater issues related drinking water problems in freezing conditions has been developed by the institute too.

Speaking about the solar snow meter, DRDO scientist Satish Chouhan revealed, “It works on solar energy. The device tracking solar energy and use the energy to melt the snow and water is stored up to minus 40-degree centigrade in a five-litre water tank attached with the device. They can take water by using the tap attached in the tank. It is cost-effective.”