India, China jointly celebrate I-Day at Bumla

Bumla, (Indo-China border), Aug 16 (UNI) The freezing cold of Bumla was momentarily forgotten as India and China jointly celebrated the Independence Day.

The sentiments ran high as the Chinese contingent saluted the Tricolour when it was hoisted by Brigadier Sanjay Kulkarni amidst the national anthem played by the army's.

Bumla is the final frontier of Indo-China Border situated at 15,500 feet above the sea level where ground temperature remains sub zero for ten out of the 12 months making it one of the most inhospitable battle grounds of the world after Siachen.

The Chinese delegation was led by Colonel Lee Miyangi.

About 90-member strong Chinese delegation crossed over to Indian side to take part in the daylong festivities which included cultural functions, feast and above all the most important Border Personnel Meeting (BPM).

''This is practically the roof of the world,'' said Brigadier Kulkarni, heading the Army formation as the whole area is flat with only yaks and rare nomads are the only moving things in this barren landscape except the man on green.

Exorcising the ghost of the 1962 border war, the delegation of 90 army men and their families travelled from the Lee camp of the Peoples Liberation army located about 20 kilometres from the McMohan line, the official boundary between India and China.

The Chinese team came in a dozen four wheelers and as they walked past the ''heap of stones'', the legendary boundary post, the Indian delegation welcomed them and received them at the border and brought them to the Indian side with full military honour.

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