NEW DELHI: Four Indian soldiers and two civilian were killed after they were hit by an avalanche in northern part of the Siachen Glacier on Monday afternoon, Indian Army said.

A group of eight persons, including six Army personnel, were hit by the avalanche at an altitude of 19,000 ft around 3 pm, they said.

Two Indian Army personnel survived the avalanche. Rescue teams from nearby posts were rushed to the location for rescue work after the incident, an Army spokesperson said.

"All eight personnel were pulled out of the avalanche debris. Seven individuals were critically injured in the incident," the official said.

Despite best efforts, four Indian soldiers and two civilian succumbed to extreme hypothermia, the official said.

The Siachen Glacier at the height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where the Indian soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds.

Avalanches and landslides are common at the glacier during the winters and temperatures can drop to as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.