Bus carrying 26 Indian Army soldiers falls into river in Ladakh

Bus carrying 26 Indian Army soldiers falls into river in Ladakh

Seven soldiers of the Indian Army died and 19 other soldiers sustained grievous injuries after a bus fell into the Shyok river in Ladakh’s Turuk sector, southwest of Siachen. The accident took place at 9 am on 27th of may, when the bus plunged into the river nearly 25 kilometres away from the Thoise airbase. The injured soldiers were airlifted to Chandimandir Command Hospital in Haryana’s Panchkula city.

“A party of 26 soldiers was moving from the Transit Camp in Partapur to a forward location in Sub Sector Hanif. At approximately 9 am, around 25 km from Thoise, the vehicle skidded off the road and fell in Shyok river (to a depth of approximately 50-60 ft), resulting in injuries to all occupants,” an army spokesperson said.

“Seven individuals have been declared fatal so far. There are grievous injuries to others as well. Dedicated efforts are underway to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured, including requisition of air effort from the Air Force to shift the more serious casualties to Western Command,” they said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was anguished by the news of the accident.

“My thoughts are with the bereaved families,” he mentioned in a tweet. “I hope those injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being given to the affected.”