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Five soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed during an exercise as their Russian-origin T-72 tank was swept away following flash floods in the Shyok river near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, officials said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he was deeply saddened by the unfortunate accident that occurred in the river near Saser Brangsa.
Two T-72 tanks were trying to cross Shyok around 1 am and one of them got stuck in high currents in the river, the officials said, adding the melting of snow resulted in the increase in the water levels.
The Army deployed rescue teams but the mission didn’t succeed in view of the raging waters in the river.
The deceased personnel are MRK Reddy, Subhan Khan, Bhupendra Negi, E Teibam and Sadarbonia Nagaraju.
“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 said 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 exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved…
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 29, 2024
“We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” he said.
“The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief,” he said.
The soldiers belonged to the 52 Armoured Regiment deployed at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) military base in the strategically located region close to the LAC with China.
“… While de-inducting 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,” the Army’s Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted on X
Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh.
Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who fell victim to this painful tragedy.
In this hour of grief, the nation…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 29, 2024
