10 Army personnel dead, 11 injured in Doda accident

Bhaderwah/Doda, Jan 22: In a deadly accident, 10 Indian Army personnel died while 11 others were injured after a Casspir vehicle skidded off the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road and plunged into a deep gorge near Khanni Top in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district in Chenab Valley on Thursday morning.

Officials said the accident occurred around 10 am when a Casspir vehicle of the Armyís Counter Insurgency Force, Rashtriya Rifles (RR), based at Bhaderwah, was on a routine surveillance and operational movement towards higher reaches.

The vehicle was negotiating a treacherous stretch of the road near Khanni Top, located at an altitude of around 9000 feet above sea level, when it skidded off the road amid adverse weather conditions.

The Casspir, a South African-designed Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle known for its V-shaped hull that deflects mine-blast forces, fell into a gorge estimated to be around 250 feet deep, resulting in serious injuries to the occupants.

Senior Police officials said a total of 21 Army personnel were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the mishap.

Preliminary investigations and local accounts attributed the accident to frost formation on the Bhaderwah-Chamba road, which had made the surface extremely slippery.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Doda Harvinder Singh also reiterated that frost on the road was the primary cause of the accident.

Soon after the incident, local residents, along with other rescue agencies and teams from the civil administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Army, rushed to the spot and launched an immediate rescue operation under difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.

The injured personnel were initially shifted to the Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Bhaderwah. Doctors there declared several Army personnel as brought dead, while some of the critically injured later succumbed to their injuries.

By the time the rescue and medical evacuation was completed, 10 Army personnel had lost their lives.

According to the civil administration, 10 seriously injured soldiers were airlifted to the Army Command Hospital, Udhampur, for advanced medical treatment, while one injured soldier was under observation and responding to treatment at SDH Bhaderwah.

The DC Doda, along with other district officers, rushed to SDH Bhaderwah and confirmed the death of 10 Army personnel and injuries to 11 others.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaderwah, Sunil Kumar Bhutyal, also confirmed the casualty figures, stating that 10 injured Army personnel were shifted to Command Hospital Udhampur.

The Armyís White Knight Corps, in a post on microblogging platform X, said, ìIn 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 fatalities. The injured have been evacuated for further treatment.î

The Armyís Northern Command also expressed condolences over the deaths and posted on X, ìLt Gen Pratik Sharma, #ArmyCdrNC and all ranks of #NorthernCommand 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.î

The Army confirmed multiple casualties, including fatalities, and said the injured had been evacuated for further treatment.

The accident drew widespread condolences from across the political spectrum.

Expressing grief over the accident, President of India Droupadi Murmu posted on X, ìThe news of the death of Indian Army soldiers in a road accident in Doda, Jammu and Kashmir, is extremely tragic. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the swift recovery of the injured soldiers.î

Paying tribute to the Army personnel who lost their lives in the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, ìDeeply 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.î

Expressing condolences to the families of the deceased Army personnel, Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X, ìI 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. The injured soldiers are being provided with the highest level of medical care. I pray to God that all the soldiers recover as soon as possible.î

Stressing that the injured Army personnel were receiving medical care, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted on X, ìDeeply saddened by the tragic road accident in Doda in which we lost ten brave soldiers of the Indian Army. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The injured soldiers are receiving medical care and all necessary directions have been given to ensure the best possible treatment. The nation stands with our Armed Forces and their families in this difficult hour.î

Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed shock over the incident and said he had spoken to the DC Doda.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor also expressed grief over the loss of lives, stating that it was deeply saddened by the death of 10 Indian Army soldiers in the accident in Doda.

The LG said the nation would always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of the fallen soldiers and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed grief over the accident and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

He also lauded the swift rescue and evacuation efforts carried out by the locals, civil administration, and Army.

Former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said he was deeply pained by the tragic loss of 10 Army personnel in the accident and extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, praying for the speedy recovery of the injured.