In a major accident that took place in Turtuk sector of Ladakh, seven army personnel were sacrificed while 19 were injured. All the injured were taken to the local military hospital. After giving first aid, all were airlifted to the Military Hospital in Chandigarh. The condition of many of the injured is more serious. The incident took place when the bus truck carrying the soldiers fell into the Shyok river. A contingent of jawans was going from the transit camp in Partapur to the forward area of Hanif sub-sector in a bus.
According to the information received, a team of 26 soldiers was going ahead of the transit camp at Partapur by boarding a bus at around 9 am on Friday. When the truck headed towards Hanif sector reached about 25 kms from Thois, suddenly the bus got unbalanced by the driver and fell into the Shyok river, about 90 feet below the road. There was an outcry after the accident. Nearby people and police and army personnel jointly carried out the rescue operation. All the soldiers who fell in the river were rescued.
Seven of these soldiers had died on the spot. The condition of many of the remaining 19 injured is critical. All were first rushed to 403 Field Hospital in Partapur. Army PRO Lt. Colonel Emran Musabi said that after first aid, all were sent to Chandigarh by a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force. Everyone there is now being treated in the military hospital. The names and addresses of the deceased jawans and the injured are not yet available. It is being told that the number of the accident bus in Nobra’s Largyab Pachhthang is JK10-6245. It was run by Ahmed Shah, a resident of Changmar area of Ladakh. In this case, the Leh Police has started investigation by registering a case at Nobra police station.