Ten Army personnel lost their lives and several others were injured on Thursday after a military vehicle skidded off a mountainous road and plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, officials said. The accident occurred at Khanni Top along the Bhaderwah–Chamba interstate road while the troops were moving towards a high-altitude post.
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According to officials, the bullet-proof Army vehicle was carrying 17 personnel when the driver lost control on the narrow stretch, causing it to fall nearly 200 feet into the gorge. A joint rescue operation involving the Army and local police was launched immediately after the incident.
Rescue operation underway after deadly accident
Rescue teams managed to pull out all occupants from the wreckage. Four soldiers were found dead at the spot, while nine others were evacuated with injuries. Of the injured, three were reported to be in critical condition and were airlifted to the Udhampur military hospital for specialised treatment. The condition of the remaining injured soldiers is stated to be stable.
The accident once again highlights the risks faced by security forces while operating in difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions in the region.
Fresh encounter erupts in Kishtwar forests
In a separate development, a fresh encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists during an ongoing search operation in the higher reaches of Kishtwar district on Thursday, officials said. The operation, launched on Sunday in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt, had earlier resulted in a gunfight in which one paratrooper was killed and seven soldiers were injured.
Officials said fresh contact was established with the holed-up terrorists in the dense forests of Singhpora on Thursday morning, leading to heavy exchange of fire. Security forces are continuing efforts to neutralise the terrorists believed to be operating in the area.
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A major terrorist hideout was earlier uncovered near the encounter site, and several suspects were detained for questioning. Officials believe a group of two to three terrorists, allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), is trapped as the operation continues. |
