Ladakh: Nine soldiers die in road accident as Army vehicle falls into gorge

Srinagar, August 20 : 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 severe 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 Corps 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.

Army jawan Vaibhav Bhoite from Satara dies in accident in Ladakh

Satara, Aug 20 : Army jawan Vaibhav Sampatrao Bhoite, resident of Rajale village in Phaltan tehsil of the district, and eight others died in a tragic accident after their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in Ladakh on Saturday. A small convoy of three army vehicles was moving in Ladakh area. In the evening (at around 1830 hours), their vehicle plunged into a deep gorge near Kiyari in Ladakh, killing total nine soldiers on the spot and one was injured. Army officials have identified all soldiers.

On hearing the news of Bhoite’s death, a sad atmosphere spread in his native Rajarale village as well as in the district, with all shops and businesses shuttering to mourn his death. The body of jawan Vaibhav will arrive at Rajale village tomorrow (Monday) afternoon and the funeral rites will be held with full military honours, the sources in the district administration said on Sunday.