Jammu: At least ten Indian Army personnel were killed and several others critically injured in a road accident in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.
According to sources, the vehicle reportedly went out of control while negotiating sharp turn and plunged into a deep gorge, resulting in the instant death of several soldiers and leaving others critically injured.
Rescue teams from the Army, police and the local administration rushed to the spot immediately on receiving information about the accident. The injured personnel were evacuated to the nearest military hospital, where some later succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll to ten.
Senior Army officials said the deceased soldiers were on active duty and belonged to a unit deployed in the area for operational responsibilities. The identities of the personnel are being formally ascertained and next of kin informed, officials added.
The Army expressed deep condolences over the loss of lives and termed the incident a “grave tragedy”. “The Indian Army stands firmly with the bereaved families in this hour of immense grief,” an official statement said, adding that all possible assistance would be extended to the families of the fallen soldiers.
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor and other political leaders expressed sorrow over the incident and paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the accident and a detailed investigation is underway, officials said.
