Army provides special shelters to troops to fight winter and China

In view of the harsh and prolonged winter ahead and the standoff with China, the Indian Army has completed setting up modular shelters at Ladakh to help soldiers withstand a temperature drop of 40 degrees Celsius.

Army sources said that besides the fast erectable modular shelters, the troops shall have additional state-of-the-art habitat with integrated arrangements for electricity, water, heating facilities, health and hygiene.

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Special shelters for material and equipment, winter clothing, tents, heating appliances, ration are among other things sent to forward locations for the troops.

The high mountain ranges in Ladakh can experience up to 40 feet of snowfall after November. Leh is 10,500 feet high while the troops are stationed at a height of up to 18,000 feet.

It is an annual challenge for the Army to provide logistics at Ladakh during winter when the temperature may dip to -40 degrees Celsius. This time, tensions with China have resulted in a four-time rise in the number of troops in forward locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), thus requiring the Army to provide additional facilities. Besides, the road gets blocked during heavy snow making it extremely difficult to provide supplies.

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The Army has already stocked food and essential items that will last for over six months.

India and China have been locked in a military standoff in Ladakh since May with the deployment of nearly 50,000 troops on both sides. There has been no break through despite several rounds of military talks at the Corps Commander level to find a solution.