Five soldiers of the Indian Army died after they were swept away in flash floods while their tank was crossing a river in the Daulat Beg Oldie area of eastern Ladakh. The area is near the Line of Actual Control with China.
The incident happened when four jawans and one junior commissioned officer (JCO) were crossing a river in the Nyoma-Chushul area in a T-72 tank as part of a drill.
However, there was a sudden increase in the water levels and the tank sank due to its impact, PTI reported.
“Five Indian Army soldiers, including one junior commissioned officer (JCO) and four jawans, lost their lives in a mishap during a river crossing exercise last evening in Daulat Beg Oldie area. All five bodies have been recovered,” Defence officials said.
Reacting to the incident, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five Army personnel.
“We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief,” Singh tweeted.
Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, also expressed his condolences.
“The news of the martyrdom of five Indian Army soldiers in an accident during a military exercise of tank crossing a river in Ladakh is extremely sad. I pay my humble tribute to all the martyred soldiers and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We stand with them in this hour of grief. The country will always remember their dedication, service and sacrifice.” he wrote on X.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also offered his condolences to the families of the Army personnel, calling it a “painful tragedy”.
“Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh,” Kharge tweeted.
Parts of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh have been receiving heavy rainfall in the past couple of days. On Friday, landslides were reported in Shimla, Kullu and Kinnaur districts.
In Shimla, several vehicles were damaged due to a landslide in the Malyana area. Roads were blocked and traffic came to a halt following landslides in Kullu and Kinnaur districts as well.