Tanks that can operate in -40 °C deployed near LAC; video surfaces

Ladakh: Even as India and China try to solve the border issue at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) diplomatically, the two nation are also deploying their respective Armies in the area near eastern Ladakh.

The Indian army tanks and armoured personnel carriers were spotted in forward locations at eastern Ladakh in a video released by the Centre today, as tweeted by news agency ANI.

The videos show rows of T-90 tanks and BMP vehicles in Chumar-Demchock -- possibly the highest deployed tank formation anywhere in the world.  

India has repeatedly stressed on the necessity to ensure "stability on the ground" after the latest round of Chinese provocation on August 31. The Chinese soldiers had tried to move in on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control near the south bank of Ladakh's Pangong Lake.

#WATCH Indian Army deploys T-90 & T-72 tanks along with BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles that can operate at temperatures up to minus 40 degree Celsius, near Line of Actual Control in Chumar-Demchok area in Eastern Ladakh.

Note: All visuals cleared by competent authority on ground pic.twitter.com/RiRBv4sMud

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

Major General Arvind Kapoor, the Chief of Staff of 14 Corps informed that the Fire and Fury Corps is the only formation in the Indian Army and probably in the world to have actually deployed mechanised forces in such harsh terrain.

The BMP vehicles can function in temperatures of up to minus 40 degrees Celsius.

China has also augmented its fire-power in high-altitude areas of Ladakh. Earlier this month, a video of a military exercise at the high-altitude Tibet Autonomous Region was tweeted by the editor of  Global Times. The video, which showed an array of multi-barrel rocket launchers in action, came hours ahead of talks between foreign ministers of the two nations.  

On the night of August 29 and August 30, the People's Liberation Army had moved their tanks and troops at night, in contravention of confidence building measures that ban military movements at night. On August 31, more troop movements took pace as ground commanders of the two sides were in discussions to de-escalate the situation.

The army is now determined to strengthen security in the whole area..