Three Army personnel lost their lives, and several others were injured when their truck veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district, police reported on Wednesday.
The accident occurred around 6am on Tuesday along the Trans Arunachal Highway near Tapi village, according to authorities.
The deceased were identified as Havildar Nakhat Singh, Naik Mukesh Kumar, and Grenadier Ashish Kumar, Army sources told PTI.
The Army truck involved in the accident was part of a convoy transporting personnel. The convoy was en route from Daporijo, the district headquarters of Upper Subansiri, to Basar in Leparada district when the incident occurred, a police officer stated.
Local residents rushed to the scene, assisting in rescuing the injured and recovering the bodies of the deceased.
In a post on X, the Army’s Eastern Command expressed its condolences: “Lt Gen RC Tiwari, #ArmyCdrEC & All Ranks express deepest condolences on the sad demise of Bravehearts Hav Nakhat Singh, Nk Mukesh Kumar, and Gdr Ashish Kumar, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in #ArunachalPradesh. The Indian Army stands firmly with the bereaved families.”
Chief Minister Pema Khandu also mourned the loss of the three soldiers.
“I am deeply pained by the loss of lives of three @adgpi personnel – Havildar Nakhat Singh, Naik Mukesh Kumar, and Grenadier Ashish Kumar – in a tragic accident near Tapi in Upper Subansiri district. Their service to the nation and supreme sacrifice will be remembered with the highest regard,” he posted on X.
“My condolences to the bereaved families. I pray to Lord Buddha for the peace of the brave souls. Om Mani Padme Hum,” he added.
