Army\, IAF chiefs visit forward areas as China moves more forces to Chushul

New Delhi: China has moved additional forces opposite the Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh after a large number of well-armed Indian troops occupied virtually all the dominating heights from Thakung to Reqin La over the weekend to pre-empt any misadventure by Chinese soldiers.

With thousands of rival troops, tanks, armoured vehicles and howitzers ranged against each other, Army chief General M M Naravane visited the Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh on Thursday.

In a parallel development underlining the heightened tensions along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control (LAC) from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria visited frontline airbases in the eastern sector, including Hashimara, to review military preparedness on Wednesday.

“The situation all along the LAC is tense, with heavy deployments. But it’s like a tinderbox in eastern Ladakh,” a senior officer said.