Army Pays Tribute To 16 Soldiers Killed In Sikkim Accident, Mortal Remains Sent To Their Homes

The truck skidded down a steep slope while trying to take a sharp turn, leading to the death of 16 Army personnel, including three junior commissioned officers.

New Delhi: Wreath laying ceremony for the 16 soldiers who died in a road accident at Zema in North Sikkim was held in West Bengal's Bagdogra on Saturday, news agency PTI reported.

According to a statement by the Army, 16 soldiers of the Indian Army were killed when the Army truck they were travelling in skidded down a steep slope at Zema in North Sikkim on Friday morning. Their wreath laying ceremony was held at Bagdogra airport technical area on Saturday between 12.30 pm and 2 pm.

The victims have been identified as Naib Subedar Chandan Kumar Mishra and Naib Subedar Omkar Singh of 285 Medical regiment, L/Havildar Gopinath Makur, Sepoy Sukha Ram, Havildar Charan Singh and Naik Ravinder Singh Thapa of 26 Mechanised Infantry, Naik Vaisakh S and Naik Pramod Singh from 221 Field Regiment, L/Naik Bhupendra Singh, Naik Shyam Singh Yadav, Naik Lokesh Kumar and Grenadier Vikas Kumar from the 25 Grenadiers, Subedar Guman Singh and L/Havildar Arvind Singh from 8 Rajasthan Rifles, L/Naik Somvir Singh of 113 Engineer Regiment and L/Naik Manoj Kumar of 1871 Field Regiment.

Notably, the army truck was part of a three-vehicle convoy that was travelling from Chatten to Thangu, the Army statement said.

The truck skidded down a steep slope while trying to take a sharp turn, leading to the death of 16 Army personnel, including three junior commissioned officers, the Army added.

A rescue operation was immediately launched and four injured soldiers were air evacuated.

After the wreath laying ceremony, the mortal remains of the soldiers were sent to their respective homes.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has announced to provide financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh each to the families of the four soldiers of the state. He also announced to give a government job to a family member of the victims.

CM Yogi has also announced to name a road after the soldiers in their respective districts. The last rites of the soldiers will be performed with full military honours in the presence of state ministers, news agency ANI reported.