4 soldiers killed, 2 hurt as truck plunges into gorge in Bandipora

Four soldiers were killed and two injured after an Army vehicle plunged into a gorge in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Saturday.

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This is the second such accident in Jammu and Kashmir in the past two weeks. Srinagar-based Army’s Chinar Corps said the Indian Army truck, while performing duty in Bandipora district, skidded off the road and fell into the gorge due to “inclement weather and poor visibility”.

The Kashmir valley has been witnessing dense fog for the past two days, leading to poor visibility. The accident occurred near the SK Payeen area on the Srinagar-Bandipora highway. The Army said the injured soldiers were promptly evacuated for medical care. It appreciated locals for extending assistance in the rescue operation. “We express gratitude towards the citizens in providing immediate succour,” the Army said. “Three bravehearts lost their lives in the accident. The Army extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” it said initially, and later revised the figure to four. Health officials in Bandipore said ambulances were dispatched to the scene on receiving information. “We brought the injured to the local hospital and later shifted them for specialised treatment to the Army hospital,” said a health official. L-G Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah expressed condolences over the deaths.