Army chief visits ITBP troopers in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Nov 6 (IANS) Army chief Bipin Rawat on Tuesday visited the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troopers in Uttarakhand’s Nelang border and offered them Diwali greetings.

He reached Nelang on the Indo-China border at around 8.30 a.m. in a chopper and spent more than two hours with the troopers.

Uttarakhand shares a 345-km border with China of which 122 km falls in Uttarkashi district.

The border is guarded by the ITBP which has nine posts, most of which are located some 12,000-17,000 feet from ground level. The current temperature here is sub-zero.

He also took briefing of the situation and later left for Harshil where he was accorded with a grand reception.

Rawat visited the Gangotri shrine where he went by road.

The Army chief is scheduled to spend the night at the Harshil Army guest house after which he will leave for the state capital on Wednesday.