New Delhi: Five soldiers of the Army were killed after being swept away while crossing a river in a T-72 tank near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Nyoma-Chushul area in Ladakh early Saturday.
“On 28 Jun 2024 night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got struck 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. Indian Army regrets loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway,” the Indian Army said in a statement on X.
The soldiers were on a routine exercise around 3 am today. While crossing the Bodhi River near Mandir Morh, 148 kilometres from Leh, on their T-72 tank, the water levels suddenly began to rise, official sources said. Soon the tank and the soldiers were submerged in the swelling river, they added.
A rescue operation was immediately launched and all five bodies were retrieved.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in mourning the deaths.
Last year, nine soldiers including a JCO lost their lives when an army truck they were travelling in, veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Kiari in Leh district.
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