India-China faceoff: PM Modi, CDS General Bipin Rawat reach Leh to take stock of situation

Amid the ongoing faceoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a surprise visit to Ladakh to take stock of the situation.

He was accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane.

He reached Nimu, early morning today and he is presently interacting with Army, Air Force and ITBP personnel.

Modi was briefed by senior officers at a forward position in Nimu amid ongoing tension with China. 

Located at 11,000 feet, this is among the tough terrains, surrounded by Zanskar range and on the banks of the Indus.

Earlier on Friday, news agency ANI had quoted sources informing about CDS Rawat's visit to Leh.

General Rawat's visit holds importance since it comes in the wake of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Ladakh being rescheduled.

The Defence Minister was scheduled to visit Ladakh today to review the preparedness of the army amid the ongoing standoff with China.

The situation at the India-China border remains tense after 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in a violent face-off in the Galwan valley on June 15-16 when Chinese troops attempted to unilaterally change the status quo during the de-escalation. 

India and China have been involved in talks to ease the ongoing border tensions since last month.

(With ANI inputs)