An Army armored vehicle carrying troops for counter-terrorism operations fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Thursday, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others.
The accident occurred around noon at the 9000-foot-high Khani Peak, located on the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road, when the driver of the bulletproof vehicle Caspir lost control and the vehicle fell into a 200-foot deep gorge.
The Caspir, also known as ‘Casper’, is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle designed to protect soldiers in hostile environments with a high level of landmine or IED threat.
The Army’s Jammu-based White Knight Corps described the incident as “unfortunate” and said the vehicle skidded off the road while driving in difficult terrain in bad weather.
In a joint rescue operation by the army and police, bodies of four soldiers were recovered, while 17 others were taken to hospital in injured condition. The vehicle was badly damaged during rescue efforts, officials said.
Later, six more injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries.
Officials said 10 injured men were airlifted to Udhampur Command Hospital for specialized treatment, while another soldier is under observation at Bhaderwah sub-district hospital and his condition is said to be “stable”.
“We have lost 10 soldiers and 11 others have been injured in the unfortunate accident involving an army vehicle,” Bhaderwah Additional Deputy Commissioner Sumit Kumar Bhutyal told PTI.
“In an unfortunate incident, a military vehicle carrying soldiers on an expedition skidded off the road while traversing bad weather and difficult terrain in the area around Doda. The accident has resulted in multiple casualties, some of whom have died. The injured have been taken to hospital for further treatment,” the White Knight Corps said in a post on Twitter.
President Draupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed grief over the accident.
The country’s President Draupadi Murmu wrote on Instagram, “The news of the death of Indian Army soldiers in a road accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured soldiers.”
Home Minister Amit Shah In a post on Twitter, Shah said he was “deeply saddened” by the accident and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. He also said that high level medical care is being provided to the injured soldiers.
He said, “I am deeply saddened by the road accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the brave soldiers we have lost in this tragic incident. The injured soldiers are being provided the best medical care. I pray to God that all the soldiers get well soon.”
“I am deeply distressed by the tragic road accident in Doda in which we lost 10 brave Indian Army soldiers. My heartfelt condolences are with the bereaved families,” the Defense Minister said in a post on Twitter.
Singh said the injured soldiers are receiving medical care and all necessary instructions have been given to ensure the best possible treatment.
CM Omar Abdullah appreciated the prompt rescue and evacuation efforts. He expressed condolences to the families of the martyred soldiers and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
