Leh - Ladakh witnessed a heart-wrenching incident as a truck carrying Army personnel skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in the Leh district, claiming the lives of nine soldiers. President Droupadi Murmu expressed her deep condolences on Saturday, extending her sympathies to the families of the fallen soldiers. In a message shared from the Rashtrapati Bhavan's official handle, she conveyed her heartfelt sorrow, wishing the bereaved families strength to endure this tragedy. She also prayed for the swift recovery of those who were injured in the mishap. The Rashtrapati Bhavan's message emphasized the nation's profound gratitude towards these soldiers for their selfless sacrifice.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar echoed the sentiments, sharing his grief over the loss of the brave Army personnel in the Ladakh road accident. He conveyed his deepest condolences to the families of the departed soldiers and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The accident, as reported by defence officials to news agency ANI, occurred around 6:30 pm while the troops were moving from Karu garrison to Kyari near Leh. An ALS (Advanced Life Support) vehicle, part of a convoy from Leh to Nyoma, skidded into the valley at approximately 5:45-6:00 PM, 7 kilometers short of Kiari. The incident resulted in the loss of nine lives, while one individual sustained injuries. The injured soldier has been transported to the hospital, the Indian Army informed in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sorrow, underlining that India will forever remember the dedication of the deceased soldiers to the nation. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) issued a statement, conveying his pain over the mishap near Leh. The statement affirmed that the service of the Indian Army personnel to the nation will remain etched in memory. The PMO extended condolences to the grieving families and wished a swift recovery for those who were injured in the accident.