ANI quoted defense officials as saying nine soldiers were killed Saturday after their truck skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Ladakh's Leh district. Another official was injured, they said.
Those killed included eight soldiers and a junior officer (JCO). The truck was traveling from Fort Karu to Kyari near Leh when it fell into a gorge 7 kilometers from the town of Kyari. He was part of an army consisting of an SUV and an ambulance with a total of 34 people. The three cars were part of a reconnaissance team.
The crash happened in Kerey, southern Ladakh, in Nyoma, on Saturday night around 6:30 p.m. Officials said a rescue operation was underway at the site.
Union Minister Amit Shah took to social media to offer his condolences. “Sadly saddened by the tragic road accident in Ladakh in which we lost our brave soldiers, their vehicle fell into a gorge. The entire nation stands with bereaved families in this hour of mourning. My deepest condolences to them. Hope the injured recover as soon as possible," he wrote on Twitter.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also offered condolences to the families of those killed.
"Sadly saddened by the loss of Indian troops following an accident near Leh in Ladakh. We will never forget their exemplary service to our country. My thoughts are with bereaved families. The injured were taken to a field hospital. Pray for their speedy recovery,” he wrote in a tweet on Twitter, now renamed X.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote in Hindi on his official Twitter account: "The news of the martyrdom of many of our soldiers in the military vehicle crash in Ladakh is very sad. I pay my humble homage to all the martyrs. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family of the jaws. I hope the injured recover quickly."
