Bhaderwah/Jammu: An armoured vehicle of the Army carrying troops for an anti-terror operation plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Thursday, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others, officials said.
The accident took place at the 9000-foot-high Khanni top along the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road around noon when the driver of the bulletproof vehicle, Casspir, lost control and the vehicle plunged into a 200-foot-deep gorge.
The Casspir, also known as ‘Casper’, is a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, designed to keep troops safe while navigating hostile environments with high mine or IED threats.
The Army’s Jammu-based White Knight Corps described the incident as “unfortunate” and said the vehicle slipped off the road while navigating treacherous terrain in bad weather.
A joint rescue operation by the Army and police recovered the bodies of four soldiers, while 17 others were evacuated to a hospital in an injured condition, the officials said. The vehicle was badly mangled by the rescue team.
Later, six more injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries.
While 10 of the injured were airlifted to Udhampur command hospital for specialised treatment, one more soldier is under observation in Bhaderwah sub-district hospital and his condition was stated to be “stable”, the officials said.
“We have lost 10 soldiers with 11 others injured in the unfortunate accident involving an army vehicle,” Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhaderwah, Sumit Kumar Bhutyal told PTI.
“In an unfortunate incident, an Army vehicle carrying troops for an operation slipped off the road while navigating treacherous terrain in bad weather in the general area of Doda. There are multiple casualties, including fatal. The injured have been evacuated for further treatment,” White Knight Corps said in a post on X.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed grief over the accident.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Doda in which we lost 10 brave soldiers of the Indian Army. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” the defence minister said in a post on X.
Singh said the injured soldiers are receiving medical care, and all necessary directions have been given to ensure the best possible treatment.
Abdullah lauded the swift rescue and evacuation efforts. He also conveyed condolences to the families of the soldiers who died and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.
LG Sinha, in a post on X, said, “We will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers.”
“In this moment of profound sorrow, the entire nation stands united with the bereaved families in solidarity and support,” the LG said, adding he had directed the senior officials to ensure the best possible treatment.
Expressing sadness over the accident, Congress president Kharge called for strengthening road safety measures to prevent such deaths.
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and loved ones. The nation stands united with deep sorrow and our thoughts and prayers are with the injured for a speedy recovery.
“Several such instances have happened in the past. There is an urgent need to strengthen road infrastructure, improve mobility in difficult terrain, and road-safety measures to prevent such heartbreaking losses,” he said.
Democratic Progressive Azad Party Azad said, “My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and I pray for the swift recovery of those injured.”
Army’s Northern Commander said the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and all ranks of the Command salute the bravehearts and express heartfelt condolences on the untimely demise of soldiers who lost their lives in the unfortunate vehicle accident.
“Northern Command fraternity stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and wishes speedy recovery to those injured in the accident,” it said in a post on X.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday expressed grief over the road accident in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir in which 10 Indian Army soldiers lost their lives.
In a post on X in Hindi, Shah said he was “deeply pained” by the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers who were killed.
“I am deeply pained by the road accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave soldiers we have lost in this tragic incident,” he said.
The home minister informed that the injured army soldiers are being provided with the highest level of medical care.
“The injured jawans are being provided with the highest level of medical care. I pray to God that all the soldiers recover as soon as possible,” he said.
An army vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Doda on Thursday afternoon, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others, officials said.
The accident occurred around noon at Khanni Top, located at an altitude of about 9,000 feet on the Bhaderwah–Chamba interstate road, when the driver of the bulletproof Army vehicle — a Casspir — lost control while heading towards a high-altitude post. The vehicle fell into a nearly 200-foot-deep gorge.
A joint rescue operation by the army and local police was immediately launched. Four soldiers were found dead at the spot, while 11 others were rescued in an injured condition. Six of the injured soldiers later succumbed to their injuries.
Of the injured, 10 soldiers were airlifted to the army’s Command Hospital in Udhampur for specialised treatment, while one is under observation at the sub-district hospital in Bhaderwah.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party has expressed profound anguish and deep sorrow over the tragic loss of brave Indian Army personnel who lost their lives in a road accident in Doda district.
J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma said he is deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident and paid rich tributes to the fallen soldiers. He said that the nation will always remember their exemplary service, courage, and supreme sacrifice with reverence and pride. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of immense grief.
Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma said that the sacrifice of our soldiers is beyond words, and the entire nation stands united with their families in this moment of profound sorrow.
J&K BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul stated that the courage, dedication, and selfless service of the martyrs will forever remain etched in the nation’s memory. He added that the party stands firmly with the grieving families and prays for strength and peace for them.
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday expressed grief over the death of ten army soldiers who were killed in an accident in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Deeply saddened to hear the tragic news from Doda, where an army vehicle met with an accident, claiming the lives of 10 brave soldiers and leaving several others injured. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and prayers for the swift recovery of the injured,” Mufti said in a post on X.
An army truck skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Doda on Thursday, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11 others, officials said.
The accident occurred around noon at Khanni Top, located 9,000 feet above sea level along the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road. The driver of the bulletproof army vehicle, known as a Casspir, lost control while heading toward a high-altitude post, causing the vehicle to plunge into a 200-foot-deep gorge.
A joint rescue operation by the army and the police was immediately launched, and four soldiers were found dead, and 11 others were rescued in an injured condition, the officials said.
Later, six more injured soldiers succumbed to their injuries.
J&K Peoples Conference President, in a statement, condoled the deaths.
In a post on X, Lone said “heartfelt condolences to the families of 10 army personnel who lost their lives after their vehicle plunged into gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda.”
Apni Party President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has expressed his profound sorrow and grief over the tragic deaths of at least 10 Army soldiers and the injuries to 11 others in a road accident in Bhaderwah.
Pertinently, the accident occurred when a vehicle carrying 21 jawans of the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit plunged into a deep gorge on the Bhaderwah–Chamba interstate highway on Thursday morning.
In his statement issued here, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said, “I am deeply grieved by the tragic road accident in Bhaderwah this morning, which claimed the lives of 10 Army jawans and left 11 others injured. In this time of extreme grief, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers. No words of solace can ease the pain endured by the loved ones of these jawans. May the Almighty grant their families the strength to bear the pain of this irreparable loss.” “May the departed souls rest in eternal peace, and may the soldiers injured in this mishap make a speedy and full recovery,” he added.
