India says 20 soldiers killed on disputed Himalayan border with China

First loss of life in area in at least 45 years comes amid renewed dispute

Twenty members of India's armed forces have been killed in a violent face-off" with Chinese soldiers on their disputed Himalayan border in the worst military crisis between the two countries in nearly 60 years.

The deaths are the first loss of life in the border area since 1975, and come amid a renewed dispute between the two countries in recent weeks. Indian and Chinese soldiers, who often do not carry weapons in the area to avoid escalating conflicts, have brawled, detained each other and deployed forces and equipment in the western Himalayas in recent weeks.