T-72 Tank Exercise In Ladakh Goes Wrong In Ladakh As Flash Flood Sweeps Away 5 Soldiers, Rajnath Singh Reacts

Five soldiers were swept away in a flash flood during a T-72 tank exercise in Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control.

Five soldiers were killed in a tank accident in Ladakh. (Representative image)

Source : PTI

A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was among 5 soldiers who lost their lives in a T-72 tank accident near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Mandir Morh. The incident occurred around 3 AM on Saturday, sources told ABP Live. The bodies of the soldiers have been recovered. An investigation into the incident has been launched.

The T-72 tank was crossing a river during an exercise in the Daulat Beg Oldie area of Ladakh. The tank got caught in a flash flood and the soldiers were swept away. The area is around 148 km from Leh. The Indian army said the tank was crossing the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh when the the water level suddenly increased.

On 28 Jun 2024 night, while deinducting from a military training activity, an army tank got stuck in the Shyok River, near Saser Brangsa, Eastern Ladakh due to sudden increase in the water level. Rescue teams rushed to the location, however, due to high current and water levels,…

— @firefurycorps_IA (@firefurycorps) June 29, 2024

Defence officials said there were five soldiers in the tank at the time of the incident. Among the soldiers were one JCO and four jawans. All five bodies have been recovered, the officials said.

The Fire and Fury Corps also revealed the names of the deceased soldiers as MRK Reddy, Subhan Khan, Bhupendra Negi, Ekeidaung Teibam, and Sadarbonia Nagaraju.

GOC Fire and Fury Corps and All Ranks salute the Bravehearts who made supreme sacrifice, in the line of duty in #Ladakh on 29 Jun 24 and offer deep condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.@adgpi@NorthernComd_IA pic.twitter.com/mLGJjBmzii

— @firefurycorps_IA (@firefurycorps) June 29, 2024

Reacting to the incident Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his grief. He said: "Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief."

Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh.

We will never forget exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved…

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 29, 2024

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, too, mourned the loss of the soldiers in the accident. " I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We stand with them in this hour of grief. The country will always remember his dedication, service and sacrifice," he said in an X post.

लद्दाख में टैंक के नदी पार करने के सैन्य अभ्यास के दौरान हुए हादसे में भारतीय सेना के पांच जवानों की शहादत का समाचार अत्यंत दुखद है।

सभी शहीद जवानों को विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित करते हुए शोक संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। दुख की इस घड़ी में हम उनके साथ…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 29, 2024