Bureau Report
NEW DELHI: Sixteen soldiers were died in India’s remote northeast on Friday when the military truck transporting them skidded down a steep mountain slope and crashed, the Army said.
The accident occurred in the state of Sikkim while the truck carrying the soldiers was negotiating a treacherous turn in a mountainous area near the border with China.
“A rescue mission was immediately launched, and four injured soldiers have been air evacuated,” the Indian Army’s eastern command said in a statement, confirming three officers and 13 soldiers had died of injuries after the accident.
“Enroute at Zema, the vehicle skidded down a steep slope while negotiating a sharp turn. A rescue mission was imme-diately launched, and four injured soldiers have been air evacuated,” the Army said.
“Deeply pained by the loss of lives of the Indian Army personnel due to a road accident in North Sikkim.
The nation is deeply grateful for their service and commitment. My condolences to the bereaved families.
Praying for the speedy recovery of those who are injured,” tweeted Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Sikkim has some of India’s most dangerous high-altitude roads, particularly along its isolated Himalayan border with Tibet.
In August, six paramilitaries were killed in an accident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK) when an ar-moured vehicle carrying them rolled down a mountain slope.
