NEW DELHI, Sept 19: After abruptly halting the first civilian expedition to Siachen glacier on Monday, the ministry of defence has announced that the trek would set off as per schedule, the Indian Express reported on Wednesday.

It said disappointed adventure enthusiasts, who had virtually hung up their boots on Monday night after being told not to proceed for the acclimatisation leg at Leh, were asked by the ministry to reach the capital by Tuesday evening to proceed on the expedition.

The ministry has arranged a special air force aircraft for the delegation to reach Leh.

The Express quoted the ministry as saying that it was right to send the expedition to the glacier as the “trek is taking place in an area which is ours”.

“There is no move to call off the trekking expedition. We consider it a regular mountaineering activity, which should not be viewed in any other way,” a ministry of defence spokesperson was quoted as saying.