Tragic Tank Accident in Ladakh Claims Lives of Five Indian Soldiers
Five soldiers from the Indian Army lost their lives during a military exercise in eastern Ladakh on Friday night. The soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), were killed when their T-72 tank, of Russian origin, was swept away by the fast-moving waters of the Shyok River near Saser Brangsa.
The soldiers belonged to the 52 Armoured Regiment, stationed at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO), India’s northernmost military base near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. Officials reported that the strong currents made rescue attempts by a squad of combat engineers unsuccessful.
A rescue team of nine soldiers attempted to reach the tank crew using a BAUT (boat assault universal type). However, they had to abandon their mission due to the dangerous conditions of the swollen river. One official stated that such river crossings are usually well-planned, but this incident was unexpected due to what appears to be a flash flood.
On the night of June 28, 2024, while withdrawing from a military exercise, the tank got stuck in the river due to a sudden rise in the water level. Despite the quick response from rescue teams, the high currents and water levels thwarted their efforts, resulting in the loss of the tank crew.
The Leh-based HQs 14 Corps expressed deep regret over the incident on X, highlighting the loss of five brave soldiers. They assured that rescue operations are ongoing and that the names of the soldiers will be released once their families have been notified.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed his condolences on X, acknowledging the soldiers’ exemplary service and offering support to the bereaved families. He emphasized that the nation stands with them in their time of grief.
This incident occurs amid ongoing military tensions between India and China in eastern Ladakh, now in its fifth year. India continues to hope that negotiations with China will restore the situation to what it was in April 2020.
The incident also follows another tragedy last August, when nine soldiers died after an army truck veered off the road and fell into a gorge near Kiari in Leh.
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The accident happened near Saser Brangsa, where the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is constructing a new road to provide alternative connectivity to the remote DBO outpost. The construction of this 130-km road from Sasoma in the Nubra Valley to DBO near the Karakoram Pass is nearing completion.
The existing 255-km Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DS-DBO) road runs close to the LAC, with Sasoma and Darbuk accessible from Leh via two different routes.
India and China have held 21 rounds of corps commander-level talks to ease tensions along the LAC. Despite some progress, with four rounds of disengagement at key points, issues at Depsang and Demchok remain unresolved. Diplomatic efforts continue to find a lasting solution.
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