Leh, June 29: In a tragic accident, five soldiers of the Indian Army lost their lives early Saturday morning during a river-crossing exercise near the Line of Actual Control in Leh’s Daulat Beg Oldi area. Among the deceased is a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO). The incident occurred around 1 am as the soldiers were on a training mission.
According to official sources, the soldiers were attempting to cross the Bodhi River near Mandir Morh, approximately 148 kilometers from Leh, aboard a T-72 tank. The water levels of the river unexpectedly began to rise, submerging the tank and the soldiers.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his condolences on the social media platform X, saying, “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.”
The accident has cast a pall over the region, and the Indian Army has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
