5 Army jawans die as tank sinks in gushing river near LAC in Ladakh
Srinagar: Five Indian soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Office (JCO), were drowned to death after being swept away while crossing the gushing Shyok River in a T-72 tank in the Nyoma-Chushul area close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh early on Saturday.
Reports reaching Leh said that the mishap occurred near Mandir Morh, 148 km from Ladakh’s main town, at 3 am and that the bodies of the soldiers have been recovered.
The Army jawans were reportedly on a training mission and chose to cross the river, which was in spate following heavy rains in the region, in a tank. The reports said that the tank, however, sank in the impact of flash floods, and with it, all those on board were drowned to death.
Confirming the incident, the Army’s Leh-based Fire & Fury Corps (14th Corps) said in a post on X, “On June 29, while de-inducting from a military training activity, an army tank got stuck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh, due to a sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location. However, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didn't succeed and the tank crew lost their lives.”
It added: “The Indian Army regrets the loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway.”
Defence minister Rajnath Singh, while expressing grief over the tragic deaths of five Army soldiers, said in a post on X, “Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. 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."
Union home minister Amit Shah, while expressing sadness over the deaths of the soldiers, wrote on X in Hindi, “I am saddened by the news of the accident during the military exercise in Ladakh. I express my condolences to the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in this accident. The whole country is with the families of the brave soldiers.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, too, have expressed sorrow at the deaths of the soldiers and sent their condolences to the bereaved families. “The news of the martyrdom of five Indian Army soldiers in an accident during a military exercise of a tank crossing a river in Ladakh is extremely sad,” Mr Gandhi said.
The outgoing General Commanding Officer (GOC) of the Fire and Fury Corps Lt. Gen. Rashim Bali expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and said that the Indian Army regrets the loss of five brave jawans while being operationally deployed in eastern Ladakh.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, the corps said, “GOC Fire and Fury Corps and aal ranks salute the bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in #Ladakh on June 29 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief."