China and India have accused each other of provoking fighting in which at least 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a disputed Himalayan area.

The Indian army said that both sides suffered casualties, but there has been no word on numbers from China yet, BBC reported.

Tuesday’s battle was reportedly fought with rocks and clubs. However, no shots were fired.

The Indian army said a number of its troops “were critically injured in the line of duty”.

The statement goes on to note that the injured soldiers were also “exposed to sub-zero temperatures in the high altitude terrain “.

Monday’s confrontation in the Ladakh region was the first deadly clash in the border area in at least 45 years.

India said China had tried to “unilaterally change the status quo”. Beijing accused Indian troops of “attacking Chinese personnel”.

The two armies later held talks to try to defuse tensions.

What happened?

Early on Tuesday, the Indian army said three of its soldiers had died in a clash in Ladakh, in the disputed Kashmir region.