The Indian Army said that a party of 26 soldiers was moving from the Transit Camp in Partapur to a forward location in Sub Sector Hanif at around 9 am on Friday.
Seven Army soldiers died and 19 were injured, some of them seriously, after their vehicle skidded off a road and plunged into the Shyok river in Ladakh on Friday. The mishap happened in Turtuk sector in the morning, with the vehicle falling from a height of around 50-60 feet, officials said.
The troops were initially taken to a field hospital at Partapur, with the Army dispatching surgical teams from Leh. Seven of them were declared dead.
In the evening, the Air Force moved the injured soldiers to the Army Command Hospital at Chandimandir in Haryana’s Panchkula district, said an Army statement.
“Seven individuals have been declared fatal so far. There are grievous injuries to others as well,” it said.
The statement said the 26-soldier team was moving from a transit camp in Partapur to a forward location in the Hanif sub-sector at around 9 am on Friday. About 25 km from Thoise, a major military base in Nubra Valley, the vehicle skidded off the road and fell into the Shyok river, “resulting in injuries to all occupants”.
“Dedicated efforts are underway to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured,” said an official.
After the mishap, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Anguished by the bus accident in Ladakh in which we have lost our brave army personnel. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being given to the affected.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he had spoken to the Army chief on the incident.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives of our brave Indian Army personnel due to a Bus tragedy in Ladakh. We will never forget their exemplary service to our nation. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he tweeted. “Spoke to the Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, who apprised me of the situation and steps taken by the Army to save the lives of the injured soldiers. The Army is providing all possible assistance to the injured personnel.”
President Ramnath Kovind tweeted: “Saddened to know that an unfortunate road accident in Ladakh has claimed the lives of some of our brave soldiers. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
The news has not been edited by our staff.
