An Indian soldier’s remains have been found nearly four decades after he went missing after an avalanche that hit the world’s highest battlefield.

Chander Shekhar was discovered with his identification disc bearing his army number.

The remains were reportedly found in an abandoned bunker on the Siachen Glacier by an army patrol on Monday.

He had disappeared on the glacier at the highest point along the heavily militarised contested border between India and Pakistan in divided Kashmir.

Shekhar, who had the rank of lance naik, equivalent to lance corporal, was one of the first Indian soldiers to occupy the 47-mile glacier in 1984 after clashes with troops from Pakistan, which also controls part of Kashmir.

He took part in Operation Meghdoot and in May that year he and 17 colleagues were patrolling on a ridge when there was an avalanche.

The bodies of 13 soldiers were recovered, but five others, including Shekhar’s, remained missing.

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The army said he made the “supreme sacrifice” and his remains have been given to his family.

They were flown to his home village of Haldwani, in northern Uttarakhand state, after a funeral with full military honours.

India and Pakistan have fought sporadic skirmishes on the glacier, but more troops from both sides have died from the gruelling conditions than from hostile fire.

In 2012, an avalanche in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir killed 140 people, including 129 Pakistani soldiers. Five years ago, at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in three avalanches.

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