High snow betrayed Pakistanis, has now flooded the Chinese

CHANDIGARH: Chinese troops deployed at Galwan Valley are facing a challenge of a different kind. With temperatures increasing in July, the snow in the area has melted. As a result, water level of the Galwan river in Eastern Ladakh has increased. The melted snow has tumbled down the tree-less slopes and washed away some Chinese Public Liberation Army (PLA) positions, rendering a part of the PLA’s forward posture untenable, and possibly adding to the pressure to disengage and withdraw. Satellite images of the area also reveal that some recently-built Chinese roads have washed away, which is a setback for the Chinese army, according to reports.

Twenty-one years ago, during the Kargil War, the reverse had worked in the Indian Army’s favour. From the third week of June 1999 when the war was at its peak, the snow began melting at high altitudes. This caused problems for the Pakistani Northern Light Infantry (NLI) that was lodged on ridges above 14,500 feet. The Pakistanis, who would melt the snow for drinking and cooking, were left thirsty as the water from the thawing snow plunged downwards to the nullahs, which were dominated by the Indian Army’s assault troops.