Daijiworld Media Network - Jammu
Jammu, Jan 22: At least ten Indian Army soldiers lost their lives and another ten were injured on Thursday after a military vehicle met with a fatal accident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district while en route to a high-altitude post, officials said.
The accident occurred at Khanni Top on the Bhaderwah–Chamba road when a bulletproof army vehicle carrying around 20 personnel reportedly went out of the driver’s control and plunged nearly 200 feet into a deep gorge. Officials said the soldiers were travelling to a forward post when the mishap took place.
A joint rescue operation involving the Army and local police was immediately launched. Four soldiers were found dead at the accident site, while the injured were evacuated and airlifted to the Army’s Northern Command Hospital in Udhampur. Some of the critically injured personnel later succumbed to their injuries either during evacuation or while undergoing treatment, taking the death toll to ten.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives. In a post on X, he said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragic accident and paid tribute to the courage, service, and sacrifice of the fallen soldiers. He extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and assured that the injured were receiving the best possible medical care.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah also mourned the tragedy, conveying his sympathies to the families of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured. He praised the swift rescue and evacuation efforts carried out by the security forces.
The Indian Army routinely operates in extremely challenging conditions, including harsh weather and rugged terrain, while safeguarding the country’s borders. Apart from deployments at the world’s highest battlefield at the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh, troops remain stationed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Stretching nearly 740 kilometres, the LoC passes through parts of Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora in the Kashmir Valley, as well as Poonch, Rajouri, and parts of Jammu district. Army personnel deployed along the LoC play a crucial role in preventing infiltration, cross-border smuggling, and drone-based activities originating from across the border. Drones are often used to drop arms, ammunition, cash, and narcotics, which are then collected by overground workers to sustain terrorist operations in the Union Territory.