Rajnath Sing condolence that 16 jawans were Martyard in Sikim Today after an Army truck fell into a gorge in Sikkim.
16 troops died as the truck derailed while making a sharp turn in Zema, North Sikkim. The truck was a part of a convoy of three vehicles travelling from Chatten to Thangu in the morning.
Soldiers who were hurt were transported by air. There have been 13 soldiers and 3 JCOs confirmed deceased.
The accident reportedly occurred around 8 am near Zema 3, which is located 15 kilometres from Lachen.
With 20 people inside, the Army vehicle was moving in the direction of the border stations. The car appeared to have gone off the road while navigating a curve in the Zema 3 region, colliding hundreds of feet below.
From the crash site, all 16 bodies have been located. Unknown is the state of the four Army personnel who were badly hurt.
The dead are being transported to Gangtok’s state-run STNM Hospital for a post-mortem before being given to the Army. It is still unknown what regiment the victims were in.