Army truck plunges into gorge in Ladakh killing 9 soldiers; Nation mourns the deaths

In a tragic incident, nine soldiers were killed when an Army vehicle plunged into a gorge in Ladakh’s Leh district on Saturday. One more is critically injured. A junior commissioned officer (JCO) is among the nine soldiers who died. The army truck was part of a three-vehicle recce patrol. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge near Kiari in Leh district, said officials. The convoy was moving towards Kiari. The incident happened around 6 pm at Nyoma, which is 7 km ahead of Kiari, said officials. 8 personnel died on the spot, while one personnel succumbed to the injuries while being taken to Leh hospital.

“An ALS (Ashok Leyland Stallion) vehicle which was moving as part of a convoy from Leh to Nyoma, skidded into the valley at approximately 5:45-6 PM, seven km short of Kiari. There were 10 personnel travelling in the vehicle out of which nine died and one got injured. The injured personnel has been shifted to the hospital," said Indian Army in an official statement.

President Draupadi Murmu expressed deep anguish and wrote on X: “I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May God give them the strength to bear this tragedy. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The nation owes a great debt of gratitude to these soldiers for their selfless sacrifice,"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed grief over the accident. “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. Condolences to the bereaved families. May those who are injured recover at the earliest," he wrote on the micro-blogging site X

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.”

“Deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of 9 Indian Army personnel due to a road accident near Ladakh. My condolences to the bereaved families. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.” said Mamata Banerjee, Bengal CM

“I pay my humble tribute to all the martyrs. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the Jawans. I hope for the speedy recovery of the injured.”, wrote Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP on X​