Jammu, Jan 23: A solemn wreath laying ceremony was conducted on Friday in Jammu to honour 10 soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a road accident along the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir.
The event was led by Lieutenant General P K Mishra, General Officer Commanding of White Knight Corps, and attended by senior officials from the Army, Indian Air Force (IAF), BSF, CRPF, police, and civil administration at the technical airport. Wreaths were also placed on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti, and Inspector General of CRPF, Jammu R Gopal Krishna Rao, paid their respects at the tricolour-draped coffins of the soldiers.
The fallen soldiers Monu (Bulandshehar-Hindom), Jobanjeet Singh (Roopnagar-Ambala), Mohit (Jhajjhar-Hindam), Shailendra Singh Bhadoriya (Morar-Gwalior), Samiran Singh (Jhargram-Kalaikonda), Pradumna Lohar (Purulia-Ranchi), Sudhir Narwal (Yamunagar-Ambala), Hare Ram Kumar (Bhojpur-Bihta), Ajay Lakra (Ranchi), and Rinkhil Baliyan (Hapur-Hindom) are being sent to their hometowns for last rites.
The accident occurred on Thursday when an armoured Army vehicle carrying troops for an anti-terror operation plunged into a deep gorge at the 9,000 foot high Khanni Top due to slippery conditions and treacherous terrain. Eleven soldiers were injured in the incident.
The White Knight Corps described the mishap as “unfortunate,” emphasizing that the vehicle slipped off the road amid challenging weather while navigating the high altitude route.
Authorities have expressed condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and assured full support in completing last rites and rehabilitation of the injured.