India Today is the first channel to reach the frontline along the LAC in eastern Ladakh where Indian Army is engaged in a military standoff with the Chinese PLA

India-China military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh has been reported either from Leh or Delhi. Now, India Today is the first channel to reach the 'war zone' to bring you exclusive live visuals of the operational preparedness of Indian tank regiments.

Exclusive visuals from areas near the LAC where nobody has gone ever since the conflict started in May show us how the Indian Army tank and infantry combat vehicles are ready for battle at altitudes up to 16,000 feet.

India Today's visit to the frontline started from Leh through Chumathang, in the coldest part of Ladakh. The view was scintillating with different rivers moving in opposite directions along the road.

During the visit, we could see first-hand that Indian Army is battle-ready to face the Chinese Army. To counter the Chinese People's Liberation Army's deployment of armoured columns, India has its T-90 and T-72 tanks along with the BMP-2 Infantry Combat Vehicles which can operate at temperatures up to minus 40 degree Celsius.

Eastern Ladakh witnesses the harshest winters where temperatures normally dip to minus 35 degrees in the night in the winter season coupled with high-speed freezing winds.

"The Fire and Fury Corps is the only formation of the Indian Army and also in the world to have actually deployed mechanised forces in such harsh terrain. The maintenance of the tanks, infantry combat vehicles and heavy guns is a challenge in this terrain," Major General Arvind Kapoor told India Today.

He added, "To ensure crew and equipment readiness, adequate arrangements are in place for both man and machine."

During the visit, India Today saw capabilities of Indian tank regiments, including their ability to cross rivers and other obstacles in the region where the Indus River flows along eastern Ladakh.

"Mechanised infantry is the advanced part of the Indian Army. It has experience of operating under harsh weather conditions and varied terrains. Due to features like high mobility ammunition and missile storage, it has the capability to fight for a longer duration. The gunner of mechanised infantry is a trained soldier who is capable of firing different kinds of armaments," a tank soldier deployed at an altitude of 15,500 feet said.

The Indian armoured regiments have the capability to reach the LAC within minutes if they are required and did so recently, when the Chinese activated their tanks after India occupied several heights near the southern bank of Pangong Lake following the incidents of August 29-30.


The entire territory spread from eastern Ladakh to the Tibetan plateau occupied by Chinese forces is suitable for the operations of tanks. Major General Arvind Kapoor is the chief of staff of the Fire and Fury Corps which looks after war preparedness along the LAC in Ladakh.

The army is logistically prepared in terms of tackling the harsh weather with special winter clothing and other facilities such as fuel, spares and assemblies in place, Major General Arvind Kapoor said.

"Adequate training with a provision of special winter clothing will ensure troops' morale remains high and they are ready to function at short notice. Along with this, training and honing of crew skills and drills will remain constant through the winters. The Indian Army in eastern Ladakh is logistically well prepared," he added.

The Army is also making habitation of soldiers on a war footing by placing prefabricated container shelters and barrel shelters that use minimum cement and sand. In these shelters, India Today witnessed proper insulation to protect soldiers from strong winds and winter, proper heating facilities along with basic needs like lavatory and kitchen.

As a part of recreational activities, Army companies are provided with a television along with a set-top box connection.

Talking about climatic challenges at an altitude of 15,000ft, Major General Arvind Kapoor said, "There is no doubt that winters in Ladakh are going to be harsh. We are absolutely in control as far as advanced winter stocking and forward winter stocking is concerned. High calorie and nutritious ration, fuel, oil and lubricants, special winter clothing, winter tentage and heating appliances are all available in adequate numbers."

Indian Army Engineer Corps, working on the erection of shelters, explained that they have used the latest technology to provide soldiers habitat, laboratory and heating arrangements at the earliest.

"These containerised shelters are custom-made and can be placed quickly. These shelters are prefabricated and hence, the use of cement and sand is a minimum," a junior officer commissioned in the Engineer Corps said.

Tensions at the India-China border increased after Chinese transgression in multiple areas in the Indian Territory. In response to the aggression shown by the Chinese, the Indian Army has deployed more than 50,000 troops along with heavy weaponry including artillery, and tank regiments to tackle the enemy forces.