Jammu: At least 10 soldiers were killed and 10 others injured in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Thursday while they were en route to a high-altitude post, officials said.
The accident occurred when an army vehicle lost control and plunged into a deep gorge near Khanni Top on the Bhaderwah–Chamba road. “The bulletproof vehicle was carrying around 20 personnel when the driver lost control, causing it to drop nearly 200 feet into a gorge,” an official said.
A joint rescue operation by the army and police was immediately launched. Four soldiers were found dead at the site, while the injured were airlifted to the army’s Northern Command Hospital in Udhampur for treatment. Some of the injured later succumbed to their injuries en route or at the hospital.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his grief, saying, “Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of 10 of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate road accident in Doda. We will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers. My deepest condolences to the grieving families.”
He added that the nation stands united with the bereaved families and that senior officials have been directed to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured, praying for their speedy recovery.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep grief, conveying heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. He lauded the swift rescue and evacuation efforts, the Office of the Chief Minister posted on X.
The Indian Army operates in some of the world’s most inhospitable conditions, including high-altitude and rough terrains, to protect the country’s borders. Alongside the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh, troops are deployed along the 740-km-long Line of Control (LoC) in J&K, covering Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Poonch, Rajouri, and parts of Jammu district.
The army’s presence along the LoC is aimed at preventing infiltration, cross-border smuggling, and drone activities from across the border in Pakistan. Terror outfits use drones to drop arms, ammunition, cash, and drugs, which are then collected by overground workers to sustain terrorist activities in the Union Territory.
With IANS inputs