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Nine soldiers of Indian Army lost their lives after their vehicle fell in a gorge in northernmost India's Ladakh. The accident occurred about 7 km short of Kyari town in the union territory of Ladakh, reports wionews.com.
The troops were reportedly moving from Karu garrison to Kyari near Leh. An unspecified number of troops have suffered injuries in the accident, defence officials said.
The Indian Army said that the soldiers were traveling in an Advanced Life Support vehicle, which was moving as part of a convoy from Leh to Nyoma.
It plunged off the road into the Valley at around 5.45-6:00 PM (Indian Standard Time), near Kiari, it was revealed.
There were 10 personnel travelling in the vehicle out of which nine died and one got injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to condole the death of the personnel.
"Pained by the mishap near Leh in which we have lost personnel of the Indian Army. Their rich service to the nation will always be remembered," Modi was quoted as saying by the Prime Minister’s Office in a post on 'X'.
"Condolences to the bereaved families. May those who are injured recover at the earliest," he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Saddened by the loss of Indian Army personnel due to an accident near Leh in Ladakh. We will never forget their exemplary service to our nation."
"My thoughts are with the bereaved families. The injured personnel have been rushed to the Field Hospital. Praying for their speedy recovery," Singh said, without mentioning the number of soldiers killed and injured in the accident.
Condoling the death of the soldiers, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Ladakh in which we lost our valiant soldiers, as their vehicle fell into a gorge."
"The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. My sincerest condolences to them. May the injured recover at the earliest," Shah posted on 'X'.