Ladakh: 9 soldiers die as their vehicle plunges into deep gorge

Srinagar: Army on Sunday identified the nine soldiers who died in an accident after their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in Ladakh on Saturday.

The accident took place nearly 7 km away from Kyari town in Leh district on Saturday, when a small convoy of three Army vehicles was moving in the area.

Ten Army personnel who were boarding the vehicle fell into a deep gorge, resulting in the deaths of nine soldiers and injuries to one.

Soon after the accident, a rescue operation was launched, and the bodies of the nine soldiers were retrieved.

The slain army soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Ramesh Lal, Havaldar Mahendra Singh, Haveldar Vijay Kumar, Naik N Chandra Sekhar, Naik Tejpal, Grenader Man Mohan, Grenader Ankit, Grenader Tarandeep Singh, and Grenader Bhoite Vaibhav.

Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding Fire and Fury Crop paid tribute to bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Ladakh and offered deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said in his condolence message "extremely pained by the loss of lives of Army personnel in a tragic accident in Ladakh".

He said 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 the early recovery of the injured", he added.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti expressed her deepest condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives.

"Deeply grieved by the tragic road accident in Ladakh", she added. (UNI)