The army vehicle was transporting 10 Army personnel. It veered off the road and fell down into a whopping 350-foot gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s District Poonch not long after leaving, killing five soldiers on the spot and wounding others.
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Army officials state that five soldiers were killed and five wounded when an army vehicle lost control and crashed into a gorge at Balnoi in Mendhar of Poonch District on Tuesday.
The Army has ruled out the involvement of any terrorist-related activity behind the incident. However, the cause of the accident is being ascertained by the authorities.
The accident occurred while the vehicle, belonging to the 11 Madras Light Infantry, was on its way from the Nilam HQ to Balnoi Ghora Post. Reports say it plunged around 350 feet down a steep gorge approaching its destination.
Immediately on alerting, the 11 MLI Quick Reaction Team rushed in to carry out a rescue operation. Medical assistance to the injured personnel was provided on the spot, and efforts are now afoot to evacuate to the nearest military establishment for further treatment.
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- All five Army personnel on board the vehicle underwent injuries
- The accident happened in Balnoi area of Mendhar, in Poonch district
- Rescue operations are underway, and the wounded have been taken to the hospital
Official Statement:
All ranks of #WhiteKnightCorps express their deepest condolences for the tragic death of five brave soldiers in a vehicle accident while on operational duty in the #Poonch sector. Rescue operations are ongoing, with medical aid extended to the injured personnel,” wrote the Army’s White Knight Corps based in Nagrota.
The army released an official statement alleging that the vehicle, a part of an army convoy, had gone off the road near the LoC.
According to the statement, “One 2.5 ton vehicle, which was a part of a convoy of six vehicles, veered off the road and fell into a Nullah (a rivulet) while plying on the operational track near Poonch. The operational track is on the home (Indian) side of the LoC fence.”
Indian Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge conveyed condolences to the families of the soldiers that died in the accident today.
“Deeply anguished by the horrible news of the martyrdom of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in a vehicle tragedy in Poonch district of Jammu Kashmir. Heartfelt condolences to the families of our bravehearts. Salute to their martyrdom and selfless service to the nation. Our thoughts are with the injured and we wish them a speedy and complete recovery,” Kharge said in a post on X.
Flashback:
In a related accident last month, one Army personnel died and another was critically injured after their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district.
The accident, which took place on November 4 near Badog village in Kalakote, caused serious injuries to Naik Badri Lal and Sepoy Jai Prakash, both of whom were rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment. Lal succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
On November 2, a car accident resulted in the death of three people, including a woman and her 10-month-old son, while three others were critically injured after their car skidded off a hilly road and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
