JK News Today
Jammu
Amid rising tensions in Ladakh following a fresh round of clashes between Chinese and Indian troops on the southern banks of Pangong Tso, 140 Kms east of Leh, the authorities have stopped all the traffic on Srinagar-Leh highway .
The sources said that this measure of stopping the traffic at Sonamarg, about 100 kms from the capital city of Srinagar on Monday was taken to facilitate the movement of the army convoys that are being rushed as a reinforcement to pre-empt any mischievous moves by the Chinese troops in Ladakh where they have caused a stand-off situation since April-end and have shown no inclination to abide by the terms of the talks held between military commanders to ease the situation.
The Pangong Tso incident of Saturday/ Sunday night was he first after the violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15/16 in which India lost 20 soldiers and acknowledged their sacrifice, while China has kept mum. However, reports of its casualties are filtering out.
There is requirement of additional troops as the Pangong Tso clashes of August 29/30 have cast new necessity.
The civilian traffic to beyond Sonamarg, the last point of the Valley before the Srinagar-Leh highway rises to Zojilla pass and then descends into the Ladakh region has been stopped since Monday morning.
Kargil and Leh bound vehicles have been asked to stay put at Sonamarg or return to Srinagar.
It is not clear that how long this traffic will remain suspended.
