In a tragic accident, three army personnel lost their lives while several others were injured after the truck they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a deep gorge in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district, police said on Wednesday. According to the police, the unfortunate accident happened around 6 am on Tuesday on the Trans Arunachal Highway near Tapi village, they said. As per army sources, deceased personnel were identified as Havildar Nakhat Singh, Naik Mukesh Kumar and Grenadier Ashish Kumar.
The Army truck involved in the accident was part of a convoy transporting personnel. The convoy was heading to Basar in Leparada district from Daporijo, the district headquarters town of Upper Subansiri, when the accident happened, a police officer said. Soon after the accident, locals rushed to the spot and helped in rescuing the injured personnel and retrieving the bodies of the deceased.
Providing details of the accident, Army's Eastern Command posted on X saying, "Lt Gen RC Tiwari, of Eastern Command Army Cadre & All Ranks express deepest condolences on the sad demise of Bravehearts Hav Nakhat Singh, Nk Mukesh Kumar and Gdr Ashish who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Army stands firmly with the bereaved families."
Chief Minister Pema Khandu also condoled the death of the three personnel. In a post on X, he said, "I am deeply pained by loss of lives of three Indian Army 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 regards."
"My condolences to the bereaved families. I pray to Lord Buddha for the peace of brave souls. Om Mani Padme Hum," he added.
(With PTI Inputs)
ALSO READ | Har Ghar Tiranga campaign: 600-foot-long tricolour march in Arunachal's Seppa, PM Modi reacts | VIDEO
