At least five soldiers were killed after an army vehicle on Tuesday plunged into a gorge after veering off course in the Balnoi area of Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Several jawans are said to have been injured in the accident. Relief and rescue operations are underway.
Expressing condolences over the death of the jawans, Army's White Knight Corps unit of the Indian Army in J&K confirmed the tragic accident and the casualties.
"All ranks of #WhiteKnightCorps extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers in a vehicle accident during operational duty in the #Poonch sector. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the injured personnel are receiving medical care," the White Knight Corps stated in a post on X.
The vehicle belonged to the 11 Madras Light Infantry and was on its way to Balnoi Ghora post from Nilam Headquarters. The Army vehicle plunged into a gorge, which was approximately 300-350 feet deep, news agency PTI reported.
In another similar incident, an army personnel died and another sustained injuries after their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in the Rajouri district in November.
The accident took place in Kalakote near Badog village. Army jawans Naik Badri Lal and Sepoy Jai Prakash were found critically injured and were rushed to a hospital. Lal, however, succumbed to his injuries, while Prakash underwent treatment.
On November 2, three people, including a woman and her 10-month-old son, died after their car skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in the Reasi district. Three other people were injured in the accident.
The victims were on their way to Chassana from their village of Malikote in a private Eco car when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to veer off the course and falling into the gorge.