New Delhi: Sixteen Army personnel died and four were injured when the truck they were travelling in skidded down a steep slope at Zema in North Sikkim.
The accident took place when the vehicle tried to negotiate a sharp turn on the winding road, the Army said.
The Army said: “A rescue mission was immediately launched, and four injured soldiers have been air evacuated.”
The truck was in a three-vehicle convoy moving from Chatten to Thangu.
As news broke of the horrific accident, President Droupadi Murmu tweeted: “Anguished to hear about the loss of lives of brave solderis of Indian Army in a road accident in Sikkim.
My heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”
Also read: New satellite images show major India-China military buildup in Arunachal’s Yangtse in past year