New Delhi, Aug. 30 -- Two Indian Army pilots pushed their single-engine Cheetal helicopter to its limits to evacuate an injured mountaineer near the Nun-Kun peaks in Ladakh's Zanskar range, landing at 18,600 feet with just one skid barely touching the treacherous snow-clad slope, officials aware of the matter said on Sunday.

The pilots braved extreme weather and unforgiving terrain to evacuate the injured junior commissioned officer on Saturday but, despite their efforts, the soldier succumbed to his injuries at an Army hospital in Kargil, the officials said.

The Leh-based HQs 14 Corps called it a "daring high-altitude casualty evacuation" while sharing mission details.

"Indian Army Aviation pilots evacuated a casualty from an extremel...