In a devastating military accident on Thursday, ten Indian soldiers lost their lives when their armored vehicle plummeted into a 200-foot ravine in the mountainous Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir. The tragedy occurred approximately at noon near Khanni Top, situated at an elevation of 9,000 feet along the treacherous Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate route.
According to official reports, the bulletproof military transport was en route to a high-altitude outpost when the driver reportedly lost control on the precarious mountain road. The vehicle careened off the roadway and descended into the deep gorge below, resulting in catastrophic damage to the armored carrier.
Emergency response teams comprising Indian Army personnel and local administration officials immediately launched a complex rescue operation despite challenging terrain conditions and unfavorable weather. Initial recovery efforts confirmed four fatalities at the accident site, while eleven injured personnel were extracted from the wreckage. Tragically, six of the wounded soldiers subsequently succumbed to their injuries during medical evacuation.
The injured personnel received immediate first aid at the location before being airlifted via military aircraft to specialized medical facilities in Udhampur for advanced treatment.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the incident through an official statement on social media platform X: ‘Deeply anguished by the mishap in Doda, in which we have lost our brave army personnel. Their service to the nation will be remembered forever. May the injured recover at the earliest. All possible support is being provided to those affected.’
The incident highlights the inherent dangers faced by military personnel operating in the challenging terrain of the Himalayan region, where difficult road conditions and extreme altitudes present constant operational hazards.