Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on December 23 visited forward areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This is where India & China have been engaged in an over seven-month-long military standoff. Naravane assessed the situation at strategic points such as Rechin La. He also assessed the living conditions of the troops of the XIV Corps, also known as the Fire & Fury Corps, who oversee the LAC in eastern Ladakh, the Army said in a statement. Altitude & the arid region, where temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius, make for an extremely harsh environment for the troops. Army chief Naravane also “visited forward base Tara & interacted with the local commanders & troops”, the statement said. He distributed sweets & cakes ahead of Christmas. Nearly 50,000 soldiers are stationed on each side in eastern Ladakh, with the ninth round of Corps Commander talks awaited. This is for the first time that soldiers in such large numbers have been positioned in such rough conditions through the winter.