Indo-China clash: Virushka pays tribute to brave soldiers; Big B, Saina Nehwal honour the martyrs

NEW DELHI: Indian Army's violent clash last night with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh left the entire nation worried. The unprecedented clash at the Galwan valley was the biggest Indo-China military confrontation in over five decades and escalated the volatile border standoff in the region.

During this aggressive face-off, 20 Army personnel lost their lives killed.

B-town celebrities and sports stars took to Twitter to pay tribute to the martyrs and expressed their sadness over the killing.

Quoting the iconic lines from 'Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo' penned by poet Kavi Pradeep, megastar Amitabh Bachchan reminded his 43 million followers the sacrifice of these soldiers who lost their lives to protect the country.


Actor Akshay Kumar paid condolences to the families of soldiers and said the loss was devastating. "We will forever be indebted to them for their invaluable service to the nation," he wrote.


'Lakshya' star Hrithik Roshan described the deaths of the soldiers and the unrest in Ladakh as 'painful'. Paying his respect to the martyrs, he said that the country's defence stands tall on ground.


While actress Taapsee Pannu said that the loss of the martyrs cannot be compensated for, actor Farhan Akhtar saluted the soldiers for their "courage and for the ultimate sacrifice in defending our borders."



Actress Anushka Sharma, on Twitter, said that as a 'soldier's daughter', the death of an army officer always 'hurts hard and feels personal'.


From the sports fraternity, Sharma's cricketer-husband and Team India skipper Virat Kohli hoped that the martyrs find peace through people's prayers at this difficult time. "No one is more selfless and brave than a soldier," his tribute read.


Team India vice-captain Rohit Sharma also paid tribute to the martyrs of Galwan Valley clash, calling them the 'real heroes'.


Fast-bowler Ishant Sharma saluted the 'bravehearts' for protecting the nation.


Former opener Virender Sehwag, former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and former pacer Irfan Pathan also paid their condolences to the kin of the martyrs.



Other athletes such as Sakshi Malik, Hima Das, Bajrang Punia, Geeta Phogat and Saina Nehwal also honoured the soldiers who lost their lives while protecting the country.






The Army initially said on Tuesday that an officer and two soldiers were killed. But in a late evening statement it revised the figure to 20, saying 17 others who "were critically injured in the line of duty and exposed to sub-zero temperatures at the standoff location succumbed to their injuries."

Government sources said the Chinese side too suffered "proportionate casualties" but chose not to speculate on the number.

It is the biggest confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while over 300 Chinese army personnel were killed in the confrontation.