Nine soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed and another injured when an army truck, part of a three-vehicle recess patrol, overturned on a road near Kyari in Leh district on Saturday evening, officials said. fell into a deep ditch.
“The convoy was proceeding from Leh to Kyari when the truck veered off the road,” Leh-based defense spokesperson Lt Col PS Sidhu said.
“Nine soldiers, including a JCO, were killed and another injured in this tragic incident,” he added.
The spokesperson said that the incident took place around 7 pm.
Leh SSP, PD Nitya said, “At 1645 hrs (6.45 pm) an Army vehicle carrying 10 army personnel including the driver was going to Neuma from Leh, met with an accident 6 km from Kyari. “
“The vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep ditch. As soon as the information reached the local police, a police team reached the spot and started a rescue operation,” he added.
The SSP said that all the injured have been shifted to the army’s MI room.
“Unfortunately, eight personnel died on the spot. Another soldier was on his way to a hospital in Leh when he succumbed to his injuries, taking the death toll to nine. Another soldier was critically injured. It is,” he said.
“An ALS (Ashok Leyland Stallion) vehicle which was going from Leh to Niuma as part of a convoy slipped into a valley seven kilometers from Kyari at around 5:45-6 PM. The vehicle was carrying 10 personnel. Out of which nine were killed and one was injured.
The army team on board the ill-fated truck reportedly consisted of 311 Medium Regiment (Artillery).
At least three officers, two JCOs and 34 jawans were traveling in a three-vehicle convoy that included a Maruti Gypsy, a truck and an ambulance.
The army has not yet released the list of the killed personnel.