Army clarifies on Leh military facility visited by PM

Questions were raised on social media over the facility.

July 04, 2020 03:52 pm | Updated 06:12 pm IST - NEW DELHI

In this handout photo provided by the Press Information Bureau, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits soldiers receiving treatment after being injured in clashes with Chinese soldiers, at a military hospital in Leh, Ladakh area on July 3, 2020.

In this handout photo provided by the Press Information Bureau, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits soldiers receiving treatment after being injured in clashes with Chinese soldiers, at a military hospital in Leh, Ladakh area on July 3, 2020.

The military hospital visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Leh on Friday was a part of the crisis expansion capacity of 100 beds due to the COVID pandemic and was very much a part of the general hospital complex, the Army said on Saturday in response to queries on the facility.

Also read: Follow ‘raj dharma’, tell people about reality of Chinese incursions: Congress to PM Modi

Questions were raised on social media over the facility as pictures released by the Press Information Bureau showed a projector while there was no medical equipment visible.

The Army said, “The COVID-19 protocol had necessitated some wards of the General Hospital to be converted into isolation facilities. Hence, this hall, which otherwise was normally used as a training audio-video hall, was converted into a ward ever since the hospital was designated as COVID-19 treatment hospital.”

The injured soldiers have been kept there since their arrival from the Galwan Valley to ensure quarantine from COVID-19 areas and Army Chief Gen. Manoj Naravane and the Army Commander have also visited the injured braves in the same location, the Army said in a statement.

Also read: Ladakh face-off | Avoid miscalculation, says China

“It is unfortunate that aspersions are being cast on how our brave Armed Forces are treated”, the statement said. The armed forces give the best possible treatment to their personnel, it added.

On a surprise visit to Ladakh on Friday, Mr. Modi addressed troops at Nimu outside Leh and later visited the hospital and met the soldiers injured in the Galwan Valley clash on June 15.

Also read: Ladakhis claim China has occupied Indian land, PM says otherwise, someone is lying: Rahul

Mr. Modi told the soldiers that the whole world was analysing their bravery. The bravery and the blood they had shed would inspire the youth and countrymen for generations, he said.

While 20 soldiers, including a Colonel, were killed in the clash, four personnel were critically injured in addition to 18 injured and admitted in the Leh military hospital. Another 58 personnel with minor injuries were to join within few days, sources had stated then. All the seriously injured were later declared stable.

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