Modi to hold all-party meeting on Friday to discuss India-China standoff

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called an all-party meeting on Friday to discuss the situation at the Sino-India border --days after the worst border military standoff with China left 20 Indian soldiers dead in eastern Ladakh.

Presidents of various political parties will participate in the meeting at 5:00pm on Friday via video conferencing, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Indian media outlets, quoting army sources, said up to 45 Chinese soldiers have been either killed or injured in the hand-to-hand fight at strategic Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.

There were "casualties on both sides", an Indian army statement said late last night.

After confirming the death of three soldiers, including a Colonel, on Tuesday morning, the army added that 17 more critically injured soldiers were "exposed to sub-zero temperatures" and died of their injuries.

ANI news agency reported today that the condition of four more wounded Indian soldiers was stated to be critical.

Indian media reports said several soldiers fell into the icy Galwan River during the clash between Indian and Chinese troops.

Earlier today, opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a blistering attack on Modi using his twitter handle questioning why he was "hiding" and why he had not spoken so far on the incident which took place on Monday.

"Why is the PM silent? Why is he hiding? Enough is enough. We need to know what has happened. How dare China kill our soldiers? How dare they take our land?" Rahul, former Congress President, tweeted.

He also posted a video paying tribute to the Indian soldiers who died in the line of duty and asked Modi to "come out" and "tell the truth".

Monday's clash marked a major escalation of weeks of tension between India and China along the border which broke out when a small Indian patrol party moved to remove a Chinese tent in the Galwan river valley at 15,000 feet.

China had agreed to remove the tent after talks between Lieutenant General-ranked officers of both sides on June 6.

China has been opposing India building a strategic road in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake besides construction of another road connecting the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today said death of the country's 20 soldiers in the worst border flare-up with China in eastern Ladakh was "deeply disturbing and painful".

"My heart goes out to families of fallen soldiers; nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them," Rajnath tweeted.

He said, "Nation will never forget bravery and sacrifice of our soldiers. Our soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in line of duty and sacrificed their lives."

Indian and Chinese troops have been locked in a standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 following a violent clash near Pangong Tso lake.