At least five Indian soldiers died of drowning after their tank was swept away during a river-crossing exercise in the Leh region close to the China border on Friday, the country’s army confirmed.
The incident reportedly occurred when the soldiers were crossing a river in the Nyoma-Chushul area in a T-72 tank as part of a drill.
The Official Twitter Account of Fire and Fury Corps, Indian Army, posted on X: “On 28 Jun 2024 night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got stuck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to 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.”
The Indian Army said it regrets the loss of five ‘brave personnel’ while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh.
Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande expressed heartfelt condolences on the loss of five brave soldiers.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he felt deeply saddened by the incident.
“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,” Singh posted on X.
“We will never forget 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,” he said.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi condoled the deaths of the five army soldiers in the accident.
Parts of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh are receiving heavy rainfall for the past several days.
Landslides have been reported from Shimla.