JAMMU, Dec 24: Five soldiers lost their lives and as many others were injured, after an Army vehicle skidded off the road, and rolled down into nearly 300 feet deep gorge in Balnoi area, near the Line of Control in Mendhar Sub Division of Poonch district this evening.A Defence spokesperson ruled out any ‘terror angle’ but maintained that cause of the accident is being ascertained but “possibly the driver lost control at the turn of the road”. He said the accident occurred in Balnoi area of Mankote tehsil, when a convoy of six vehicles was on its way to a forward location at around 5.30 pm.
The spokesman added that the rescue teams have recovered five bodies from the gorge which was nearly 300 feet deep. The injured soldiers have been shifted to the field hospital in Poonch, he said, adding one of them is in critical condition.
“A 2.5 Ton vehicle, part of a convoy of six vehicles, while moving on the operational track in forward location of Balnoi went off the road and fell into into a deep gorge. Operational track is on the home side of the LoC fence,” the Defence spokesperson said.
He said the five soldiers lost their lives on the spot and the condition of one of the injured was serious at Army base hospital Poonch. These five injured are undergoing treatment at Poonch Hospital. A few are likely to be airlifted to Command hospital tomorrow morning.
The Army, meanwhile, ruled out terrorism angle to the incident. “A terrorist initiated incident positively ruled out after confirming from ground sources. our post is approximately 130 m from the incident site and backup vehicle was barely 40 meters away,” he said. Meanwhile, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed shock over the loss of lives of the Army personnel due to tragic road accident in Poonch.
In a condolence message, the Lt Governor has said, ” I am deeply pained by the loss of lives of our brave Army personnel due to a tragic vehicle accident in Poonch sector . My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences over the death of five soldiers in the road accident.
The Chief Minister extended his deepest sympathies to the bereaved families of the soldiers, the spokesman said.
Abdullah also prayed for the swift recovery of the soldiers injured in the accident.
The Northern Command said, ” Lt General M V Suchindra Kumar and all ranks of Dhruva Command extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers.”
“Dhruva Command stands firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief”, the Command said on X.
All ranks of White Knight Corps extend their deepest condolences “Rescue operations are going on, and the injured personnel are receiving medical care,” the White Knight Corps said on X.
