NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Sixteen army personnel, including three officers, were killed after the army truck they were travelling fell into a gorge in Sikkim on Friday, the army said in a statement.
“The ill-fated vehicle was part of a three-vehicle convoy that had moved from Chatten in the morning towards Thangu. Enroute at Zema, the vehicle skidded down a steep slope while negotiating a sharp turn,” the Army’s Eastern Command said in a statement.
A rescue mission was immediately launched, and four injured soldiers have been air evacuated. “Unfortunately, three Junior Commissioned Officers and 13 soldiers succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident,” the statement added. The four injured personnel and being treated at a military hospital in Siliguri, officials said.
Paying tributes to the deceased soldiers Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Pained by the loss of lives of our brave army personnel due to a road mishap in Sikkim. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, too, took to Twitter to express his condolences to the bereaved families of soldiers. “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,” he tweeted.
(Manas Dasgupta)
