The Siachen glacier which is the largest Himalayan glacier belongs to Karakoram glaciers of Western Himalayas. The impact of global warming and other climatic factors is already evident in Siachen glacier over the last few decades with features like faster retreat of snout (base of the glacier) due to thinning of ice in ablation area. The snout of Siachen glacier situated at an altitude of 12188 ft is the source of river Nubra which joins with river Shyok and flows downstream to join ultimately the river Indus. Therefore, any geomorphological changes at the snout has its impact on the flow of water in river Nubra which originates from it.

Formation of vertical crevasses both in longitudinal and transverse direction due to the rise in temperature in summer at both the sides is a characteristic feature at the snout in Siachen glacier. When the longitudinal and transverse crevasses inter-sect with each other, huge blocks of ice are formed which eventually get detached from the main glacier and flow down the river.

The road connecting the snout supports the logistics of the formation of troops deployed in Siachen. The main Army installations located in Base Camp I at the snout was shifted to Base Camp II and subsequently to Base Camp III after heavy enemy shelling in 1999-2000. Base Camps II and III are on the right bank of river Nubra, thereby making the road communication all the more important for link between Base Camp I and Base Camps II and III. Keeping in view the importance of communication across the river, construction of the road was started in May 1997 whereas a broken span bridge was planned across the river near the snout with filling of embankment between the bridges. The 170 ft-Bailey Bridge constructed by the Combat Engineers was washed away by the swollen Nubra in July 2000 resulting in disruption of communication between Base Camp I and Base Camps II and III. With the sanction of Army authority, the BRO geared up to meet the challenge of bridging Nubra in the winter.

The 50-ft Bailey Bridge was already launched in January 2000 but the launch of 150 ft-Bailey Bridge had to be stopped because of intermittent enemy shelling in and around the site. When the 170 ft-Bailey Bridge constructed by the Combat Engineers was washed away by the swollen Nubra, the river was flowing at its full width with huge blocks of ice. It expanded by nearly 50 m at the proposed bridge site thereby encircling both the abutments constructed for the 150- ft Bailey Bridge, making the construction virtually impossible.

Eventually the work started in the month of November 2000 with embankment filling of 50 m between the abutments of both the bridges. With the temperature falling below minus 10 degree celcius in January last year, the river was completely frozen when the construction of 150 ft Bailey Bridge started. Against all odds, with unskilled manpower and braving the sub-zero temperature, the communication was established by launching the bridge. Both the 50 ft and 150 ft-Bailey Bridges were formally opened to traffic in February last year.

Establishing the communi- cation was not enough. With temperature rising in summer, flowing of huge blocks of ice and heavy discharge in river Nubra, protection works for abutments of bridges and embankments were required to be carried out before onset of summer. Therefore, an additional work of sausage walling was undertaken for a length of 150 m upstream of bridge site on Base Camp II side of the river so as to channelise the main flow under the bridge.

The task was difficult though not impossible and the resources used have been enormous in terms of men, materials, vehicles, equipment and plants. The bridges remain one of the marvels of BRO and are a tribute to all personnel who have performed with utmost dedication.