The Galwan Valley, whose name appears frequently in the international news, is not only a geographical term, but also one of the focal points of the Sino-Indian border dispute. This valley in the Karakoram Mountains has become a key area in the border between the two countries due to its unique geographical location and complex topographical conditions.
The geography of the Galwan Valley is harsh. It is located in the western section of the Sino-Indian border, with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters, which means that the oxygen content here is much lower than in the plains, posing a great challenge to human survival and activities. In addition, the temperature here is extremely low, covered with snow all year round, and the temperature can drop below minus 30 degrees Celsius in winter, and extreme weather conditions are a severe test for any military operation.
The complexity of the terrain is also a major feature of the Galwan Valley. The valley is flanked by steep peaks and in the middle by a meandering river. Although the river is not deep, the riverbed is full of rocks, which makes it extremely difficult to wade across the river. In such terrain conditions, even a simple march becomes extremely difficult, not to mention military deployment and construction.
The tragedy of the drowning of Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley conflict is closely related to the low-pressure and low-oxygen environment of the plateau. According to relevant studies5, the unique low-pressure and hypoxic environment in the plateau region poses a serious challenge to human health. Especially when the altitude increases, the partial pressure of oxygen in the air decreases, resulting in insufficient partial pressure of oxygen for inhaled gases in the human body, and the blood is not sufficiently oxygenated in the lungs, thus causing hypoxemia and hypoxia.
The Galwan Valley region is particularly harsh, with temperatures below zero all year round and icy waters. In this environment, the human body instinctively reduces heat dissipation in order to maintain body temperature, and wearing heavy cold clothing has become a necessary choice for soldiers. However, if they accidentally fall into the water, these heavy clothing can quickly absorb water and increase weight, limiting the soldier's ability to move and making it difficult for them to save themselves, thus increasing the risk of drowning.
After drowning, soldiers face not only the danger of drowning itself, but also the problem of hypoxia that comes with it. Drowning can cause obstruction of human breathing, further exacerbating the already low oxygen conditions in the highland area. In addition, the panic and struggle caused by drowning can consume a lot of physical energy, exacerbate oxygen consumption, and further reduce the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood and reduce oxygen saturation.
Most of the 20 Indian soldiers who died in the Galwan Valley clashes were due to prolonged exposure to hypoxia and hypoxia, which eventually led to brain herniation. Brain herniation is a displacement of brain tissue due to increased intracranial pressure, which can lead to life-threatening compression of the brainstem in severe cases. In a high-altitude hypoxic environment, the body's tolerance to hypoxia is reduced, and cerebral hemodynamic changes are more likely to occur, such as increased cerebral blood flow and dilatation of cerebral artery blood vessels. These changes may lead to an increase in intracranial pressure, which in turn increases the risk of brain herniation.
In addition, the high-altitude hypoxic environment may also cause oxidative stress in the body, lead to the metabolism and function of nerve cells, affect the neurotrophic factor pathway and the cerebrovascular microcirculation regulatory system, and thus participate in the occurrence and development of brain injury. This brain damage can lead to cognitive dysfunction that affects a soldier's judgment and reflexes, further increasing the likelihood of encountering misfortune in a conflict.
In summary, the cause of the drowning of Indian soldiers in the Galwan Valley conflict is directly related to the low-pressure and low-oxygen environment of the plateau. A series of factors such as icy river water, heavy winter clothing, hypoxemia and brain herniation are intertwined to form a deadly combination that poses a great threat to the lives of soldiers. This incident also reminds us that when conducting military operations in the plateau area, it is necessary to fully consider the environmental factors unique to the plateau and take effective protective measures to ensure the health and safety of soldiers.
The plateau environment poses a serious challenge to human health due to its unique geographical and climatic conditions. In particular, medical emergencies such as head injuries are more likely to cause serious complications such as brain herniation in highland areas, which can often be fatal if left untreated.
Brain herniation is a serious condition in which increased intracranial pressure causes the displacement of brain tissue and can be caused by a variety of factors, including trauma, tumors, or infection. In plateau areas, due to the low oxygen environment and decreased atmospheric pressure, the human red blood cells compensate for proliferation and blood viscosity increases, which may exacerbate microcirculation disorders and thus exacerbate intracranial hypertension. In addition, the inconvenient transportation and limited medical facilities in the plateau area make it impossible for the injured to receive effective treatment in time after being injured, which increases the difficulty and risk of treatment.
Soldiers are particularly at risk when conducting military activities or operations in highland areas. For example, in the Galwan Valley conflict, Indian soldiers suffered from hypoxia due to drowning, which led to serious complications such as brain herniation, resulting in a large number of soldiers' deaths. This incident highlights the importance of timely and effective medical treatment to ensure the safety of soldiers' lives in a high-altitude environment.
In order to improve the medical treatment capacity in the plateau area, it is necessary to improve and strengthen it in many aspects. First of all, logistics should be strengthened to ensure that medical supplies and equipment can be delivered to the plateau areas in a timely manner. This includes portable medical equipment, first-aid medicines, and necessary surgical instruments. Secondly, it is necessary to formulate and optimize the treatment plan in the plateau area, and carry out special medical training and drills according to the unique environmental factors and possible medical conditions of the plateau, so as to improve the emergency response ability of medical personnel.
In addition, the establishment of a rapid response medical rescue team is also the key to improving the medical treatment capacity of the plateau. These teams should have the ability to provide first aid in a cold and oxygen-deficient environment, and be able to quickly arrive at the scene of the accident to provide initial medical assistance to the injured, stabilize the injury, and gain time for treatment. At the same time, modern communication technology should be used to establish an efficient information transmission and command system to ensure the coordination and effectiveness of medical rescue operations.
In the plateau area, medical treatment should not only pay attention to the life safety of the injured, but also take into account the rehabilitation and psychological counseling after the injury. Due to the particularity of the plateau environment, the injured may have various complications during the treatment, such as high-altitude heart disease, high-altitude polycythemia, etc. Therefore, the medical treatment team needs to have comprehensive medical knowledge to be able to detect and deal with these problems in a timely manner.
In short, there are many challenges in the medical treatment in the plateau environment, but by strengthening the logistics support, optimizing the treatment plan, establishing a rapid response medical rescue team, and providing comprehensive medical and psychological support, the success rate of treatment can be effectively improved and the health and safety of people in the plateau area can be guaranteed. This is not only a huge test for the medical system, but also a challenge to humanity's ability to adapt and conquer nature.
In the long course of history, countless military operations and expeditions have left behind the legendary stories of the indomitable and courageous self-rescue of warriors. In 1981, the survey and mapping personnel of our army carried out a topographic mapping mission in the Galwan River Valley, which is such a history full of challenges and courage.
The Galwan Valley, a slender canyon in the Karakoram Mountains, is known for its rapids and rocky rocks. Here, the natural environment is extremely harsh, and the logistics are almost zero. However, it was under such difficult conditions that the surveyors of our army completed an incredible self-rescue operation by virtue of their strong personal will and excellent teamwork ability.
At that time, the surveyors were faced with the double test of continuous deep pools and rushing rivers formed by the melting glaciers. In such a situation, any negligence can lead to irreparable consequences. However, they did not back down, but relied on the trust and support between each other, using equipment such as climbing ropes, and assisted each other to overcome one difficulty after another.
In the process of self-rescue, the team members showed extremely high discipline and personal qualities. They strictly followed orders and did not abandon the task even in extreme conditions. Everyone is aware of their responsibilities and missions, and the tacit cooperation between each other enables the whole team to remain calm and orderly in the face of adversity.
In addition, the team members also gave full play to their individual ingenuity and survival skills. In the face of deep pools formed by glacial meltwater, they skillfully bypassed one obstacle after another using ropes and climbing skills. In the face of the turbulent river, they used their familiarity with the terrain and the judgment of the current to choose the best crossing point to ensure the safety of the whole team.
This self-rescue operation is not only a victory over the challenge of nature, but also a profound demonstration of human will and team spirit. It tells us that in the face of difficulties and challenges, only by relying on firm will, strict discipline and team strength can we overcome all difficulties and obstacles.
Today, such a spirit of self-help is still of great practical significance. Whether in military operations or in everyday life, we need to learn to remain calm in the face of adversity, use our individual abilities, and work hand in hand with others to overcome difficulties together. This spirit is our most valuable asset in the face of challenges.