Ladakh: Civilian traffic, phone network suspended | Economic Times

Srinagar: The Srinagar-Leh highway was closed for civilian movement on Monday following fresh tensions between India and China in eastern Ladakh. Civilian traffic resumed later in the evening to facilitate those stranded in Sonamarg, Ganderbal and Srinagar to reach their destination. Officials in Srinagar said that an Army convoy comprising around 300 vehicles were on the highway from Sonamarg, a hill station in Kashmir on the highway connecting Kashmir with Kargil. Mobile network has been suspended in the eastern Ladakh since Sunday afternoon, when heavy movement of troops was first reported from Leh towards Chushul and Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley, the major hotspots in the region. “The situation is not normal on the border. We are hearing that clashes have been going on around Black Top mountain in Gurung Hali of Chushul area for some days now. We are hearing that our troops have been injured,” said a resident of Durbuk in eastern Ladakh. The area where fresh tensions was reported was captured by the Chinese army during 1962 war.Another former legislator from Ladakh said that fresh Chinese aggression was also reported from Pangong Tso in the past week. “Locals in the villages near Pangong Tso inform that the Chinese troops have come up to Finger two area and provoked the Indian Army,” he said.In Leh city, where most local politicians are busy with the upcoming council elections, locals reported heavy movement of Army vehicles towards bases in Karu and Durbuk. “We have been told that fresh contingents of the Army are being transported towards Ladakh from Kashmir and other states as well,” said an officer in Srinagar.