Army Vehicle Plunges into Gorge in Poonch, 5 Soldiers Killed, 3 Injured

At least 5 soldiers were killed and 3 sustained injuries when an Army vehicle went off course and fell into a deep gorge in the Balnoi area of Mendhar in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Tuesday, officials said.

Official sources said that the vehicle, part of the 11 Madras Light Infantry (11 MLI), was traveling from Nilam Headquarters to Balnoi Ghora Post when it plunged about 350 feet into a steep gorge near its destination.

Upon receiving the distress call, the Quick Reaction Team of 11 MLI quickly arrived at the scene and initiated rescue operations. The injured soldiers have been shifted to the hospital where their condition is stated to be critical. [KNT]