Five soldiers lost their lives, and several others sustained injuries after an Army vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a gorge in the Balnoi area of Mendhar, Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday.
The tragic accident occurred as the vehicle from the 11 Madras Light Infantry (11 MLI) was traveling from Nilam Headquarters to Balnoi Ghora Post. The vehicle reportedly fell approximately 350 feet into a steep gorge near its destination.
Upon receiving the news, the Quick Reaction Team of 11 MLI promptly reached the accident site and initiated rescue operations. The injured personnel were given immediate medical assistance, and efforts are being made to evacuate them for advanced treatment.
ALSO READ: Dalit boy beaten, urinated upon, dies by suicide
The White Knight Corps expressed condolences in a post on X, stating: “All ranks of #WhiteKnightCorps extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers in a vehicle accident during operational duty in the #Poonch sector. Rescue operations are ongoing, and the injured personnel are receiving medical care.”
Similar Incidents in Recent Months
In a comparable incident last month, an Army personnel died, and another was injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. The accident took place on November 4 near Badog village in Kalakote. Despite receiving immediate medical care, Naik Badri Lal succumbed to his injuries.
Earlier, on November 2, a car carrying six passengers skidded off a hilly road and plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district. The accident claimed the lives of a woman, her 10-month-old son, and another individual, while three others sustained critical injuries.