JAMMU, June 29: In a tragic incident on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China in Eastern Ladakh, five Indian soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) were martyred when their tank got stuck in river Shyok during military training activity.
The tragedy occurred around 1 am today due to sudden increase in the water level of the river when T-72 tanks were trying to cross river Shyok and one of them got stuck in high currents in the river.
Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been engaged in eyeball-to-eyeball position at various friction points along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh for last over four years now. Though disengagement has taken place from some of the points, troops from both sides remained deployed at other points even after several meetings between the two countries at various levels.
Officials said the jawans were swept away while trying to get a tank across the river Shyok in Eastern Ladakh last night. The martyrs belonged to 52 Armoured Regiment deployed at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) military base close to the LAC with China.
The melting of snow resulted in the increase in water levels of the Shyok river, which passes through the strategically key Depsang region.
“On 28th June 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,” the Army’s Leh-based Fire and Fury Corps said.
It said the rescue teams were rushed to the location.
However, due to high current and water levels, the rescue mission didn’t succeed and the tank crew lost their lives, it added.
The bravehearts who lost their lives in the tragedy have been identified as MRK Reddy, Havaldar Subhan Khan, Bhupendra Negi, E Teibam and Sadarbonia Nagaraju.
“The Indian Army regrets loss of five brave personnel while being operationally deployed in Eastern Ladakh. Rescue operations are underway,” the Fire and Fury Corps said on X.
Following June 2020 Galwan clash in Eastern Ladakh, there has been no untoward incident along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Several meetings have been held between the officers of Indian and Chinese Armies including GOC level for more disengagements from the friction points. Already, disengagement has taken place in some of the areas.
The Indian Army troops deployed in the areas have been on a very high alert following the Galwan Valley clashes in June, 2020. The Army has deployed a sizable number of tanks in Eastern Ladakh in view of the lingering border row.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have condoled the loss of lives of the Army soldiers in Eastern Ladakh.
“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,” Rajnath Singh said.
“We will never forget 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,” he said
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed sadness over the death of soldiers in a flash flood in Ladakh and said the entire country is with their families.
“I am saddened by the news of the accident during the military exercise in Ladakh. I express my condolences to the families of the brave soldiers who lost their lives in this accident. The whole country is with the families of the brave soldiers,” Shah wrote on ‘X’.
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande and all ranks of the force condoled the death of the five Army personnel.
Gen Manoj Pande and all ranks of the Indian Army express heartfelt condolences on the loss of five brave soldiers who lost their lives during a training activity in Ladakh.
The Fire and Fury Corps in another tweet said, “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.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed sorrow at the death of five soldiers who drowned when their T-72 tank sank due to a flash flood in the Shyok river in Ladakh on Saturday.
“Deeply distressed at the loss of lives of five Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO (Junior Commissioned Officer), while getting a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh,” Kharge said in a post on X.
“Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who fell victim to this painful tragedy. In this hour of grief, the nation stands together in saluting the exemplary service of our valiant soldiers,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said the news of the soldiers’ death was extremely sad.
“The news of the martyrdom of five Indian Army soldiers in an accident during a military exercise of a tank crossing a river in Ladakh is extremely sad,” he said in a post.
“While paying my humble tribute to all the martyred soldiers, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We stand with them in this hour of grief. The country will always remember their dedication, service and sacrifice,” he said in a post.
Priyanka Gandhi also expressed her condolences to the families of the five soldiers.
“The news of the martyrdom of five army soldiers in the sudden flood … in Ladakh is extremely sad. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” she said in Hindi in a post on X.
“The country will always remain indebted to our brave soldiers and their families for this supreme sacrifice,” she added.
