At least 20 dead in China-India skirmishes using fists and stones

The image of Chinese and Indian soldiers fighting with bare hands, sticks and stones in the Himalayan wastes of Ladakh is a bizarre one, almost reminiscent of a Monty Python sketch.
Both countries have high-spec guns and tanks in the area, but guns and explosives have been prohibited in the region since 1996. The border skirmish was therefore limited to fisticuffs, stone-throwing and the odd iron bar, for which I suppose we should be grateful. But somehow, 20 Indian troops still died (Chinese casualties, in typical closed-mouth Chinese style, are unknown). Most of the dead either lost their footing and fell on the precipitous rocky cliffs or into the fast-flowing, icy Galwan river, or they were pushed.
Either way, the increased rumblings of discontent on both sides of the disputed border is ominous to say the least.

UPDATE
New pictures are emerging which put a bit of a different complexion on this story. An Indian military official has shared pictures of iron bars studded with nails, like something out of the Middle Ages, which he claims were used by the Chinese aggressors.
Of course, China will deny it, and who knows what is the truth of the matter.