Communication channels snapped in Eastern Ladakh

SRINAGAR — Apprehensions are brewing up among residents of Ladakh as communication channels have been snapped in Eastern Ladakh after fresh clashes between the Indian and Chinese soldiers.

A fresh clash between the Indian and Chinese soldiers on the intervening night of August 29 and 30 occurred on the southern bank of Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, breaking the uneasy calm that had persisted following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley on June 15.

According to an Army statement, on the night of 29/30 August, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops violated the previous consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic engagements amid the ongoing standoff in eastern Ladakh.

The PLA troops carried out provocative military movements to change the status quo, said the statement.

At the same time, people in Ladakh are worried over the safety of their relatives’ living in Eastern Ladakh where all communication channels have been snapped.

“We have no phone connectivity with relatives living in Eastern Ladakh. We are worried over their safety,” said Mohammad Ali, a resident of Leh.

Chief Executive Councillor Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh (LAHDC Leh) Gyal P. Wangyal said he was collecting details of what had happened along the LAC.

“I can’t say right now what is happening along the LAC until we get all the details,” Wangyal said.

Konchok Stanzin, a councilor of Chushul said he has no communication with people of Eastern Ladakh. “Phone lines have been snapped in Eastern Ladakh. We have no communication with people there,” he said.

The situation on the southern bank of the Pangong Lake area in eastern Ladakh remains tense following renewed tensions between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

According to reports, Indian and Chinese tanks have been stationed within firing distance of each other even as fresh military talks continue for the second day on Tuesday.