Defence, Home Ministers, LG express grief
*3 vehicles were on way to Nyoma to carry out recce
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 19: Nine Army soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) were killed and another injured seriously when an Army vehicle on way from Leh to Nyoma skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge at Kiari in Nyoma area of Leh district in the Union Territory of Ladakh this afternoon.
Three vehicles including an SUV, one truck and an ambulance carrying a total of 34 Army personnel, part of a recce party, were on their way from Leh to Nyoma when the truck carrying 10 soldiers, two of them JCOs, plunged into the gorge, about six kilometres short of Kiari in Nyoma area, officials told the Excelsior.
The accident occurred at 4.45 pm.
Army vehicles accompanying the truck, local police and civilians immediately joined the rescue operation but eight of the soldiers including a JCO had died on spot.
Two jawans were rescued in seriously injured condition and were shifted to nearby Army MI room. However, another injured trooper succumbed to the injuries while being shifted to hospital in Leh taking death toll to nine.
The injured has been shifted to hospital and his condition was also stated to be critical.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident.
“Saddened by the loss of Indian Army personnel due to an accident near Leh in Ladakh. We will never forget their exemplary service to our nation. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. The injured personnel have been rushed to the Field Hospital. Praying for their speedy recovery,” Rajnath wrote on X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also expressed grief over the death of Army personnel in the accident.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Ladakh in which we last our valiant soldiers, as their vehicles fell into a gorge. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. My sincerest condolences to them. May the injured recover at the earliest,” Shah wrote on X, formerly twitter.
LG J&K Manoj Sinha has too expressed pain over loss of lives of troops in the accident.
“Extrememly pained by the loss of lives of Army personnel in a tragic accident in Ladakh. Their supreme sacrifice & selfless service to the nation will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to bereaved families in this hour of grief. Prayers for early recovery of injured,” Office of LG J&K write to X.
Officials said bodies of the dead Army soldiers have been shifted to hospital and will be flown to their native towns tomorrow with full military honours.
Condition of the injured jawan is being monitored and, if required, he too will be shifted to New Delhi.
The Army convoys keep moving in Leh to transport supplies along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Ladakh where Sino-Indian troops are engaged in conflict in many areas for last over three years now.
List of dead
Sepoy Anuj Kumar, Gunner Tarandeep Singh, Gunner Chandrashekhar, Lance Naik Tejpal Singh, Naib Subedar Ramesh Lal, Lance Naik Manmohan Singh, DMT Ankit Kundu, Havaldar Vijaya Kumar, Havaldar Mahendra Singh Sikarwar and DMT Vaibhav Bhoite.
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