As consensus fails India and China, soldiers battle minus 20 Degrees temperatures

New Delhi, Oct 6 Temperatures at critical mountain peaks and passes in the Himalayas along the disputed India-China border have dropped to minus 20 Degrees Celsius, presenting a fresh challenge to the thousands of troops deployed on both sides.

Senior military personnel from India and China are expected to meet on October 12 for the seventh time to discuss de-escalation along the unmarked border in eastern Ladakh.

All previous talks, however, have failed, dashing hopes of an early disengagement.

To add to the woes, for more than a month, soldiers are perched on peaks rising to 17000 ft because a turn-around of all troops is yet to happen owing to the arduous terrain and tough logistics.

On August 29, in a sudden stealth operation carried out mostly under the cover of darkness, India occupied critical heights and mountain passes along the South Bank of the Pangong Tso - a glacial lake at 16,000 ft.

"Only food and water are being reached to these points," said a senior official.

The six-month-long border dispute between nuclear-armed nations is now turning into a test of endurance and logistics as both sides have dug in.

Soldiers holding on the peaks for more than a month include those from the Special Frontier Force

( With inputs from IANS )