In a tragic incident, five Army soldiers lost their lives when their T-72 tank was swept away by flash floods while crossing a river near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Nyoma-Chushul area of Ladakh. The incident occurred early Saturday around 1 AM, officials reported.
The soldiers were participating in an exercise near Mandir Morh, approximately 148 kilometres from the location. Despite efforts, only one soldier has been found, and the search for the remaining personnel continues.
Last year, a similar tragedy struck when nine soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), perished after their army truck plunged into a deep gorge near Kiari in Leh district.
Tensions between the Indian and Chinese militaries have persisted in Ladakh since May 2020, with no complete resolution to the border dispute. Despite disengagement from several friction points, the situation remains sensitive. Army Chief General Manoj Pande has assured that the army is prepared to handle any challenges along the northern border with China, highlighting the army’s enhanced capabilities in the region.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that the current government’s focus in its third term will be on resolving the remaining border issues with China.
