At least seven Indian Army personnel lost their lives in a road accident in the Turtuk sector of the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir. Several others were seriously injured in the accident when the vehicle they were travelling fell into the Shyok River in Ladakh. The incident occurred when a team of 26 soldiers was on their way from Partapur transit camp towards the forward position at Turtuk in Leh district.
About 25 km from Thoise, the vehicle carrying them skidded off the road and fell into the Shyok River (about 50-60 feet), resulting in injuries to all people on board.
“A party of 26 soldiers was moving from the transit camp in Partapur to a forward location in Sub Sector Hanif. The vehicle skidded off the road and fell in Shyok river, resulting in injuries to all occupants,” the Indian Army said.
After the accident, all 26 jawans were admitted to the Army’s field hospital. Surgical teams from Leh were sent to Partapur to look after the injured soldiers, but seven of them later succumbed to their injuries.
PM Modi said he was 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 that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being given to the affected,” PM Modi tweeted.
Last month, three soldiers died, and five others were injured in Kashmir when their Army vehicle overturned in the Shopian district. The vehicle was en route to an encounter site in Badigam village.
