
Five soldiers died after their tank met with an accident while they were crossing a river during an exercise near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Leh's Daulat Beg Oldi area on Saturday (June 29) morning.
Rescue officials have recovered body of one soldier, while the four others are still missing.
A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) is among the five killed in the accident.
The soldiers were on a training mission and were crossing the Bodhi River near Mandir Morh, 148 kilometres from Leh, on their T-72 tank when suddenly the water levels began to rise, official sources said.
The tank and the soldiers were submerged in the swelling river, they added.
A rescue operation has been launched.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the nation in mourning the deaths.
"Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of five of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate accident while getting the tank across a river in Ladakh. We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands firm with them during this hour of grief," he posted on X.
(With inputs from agencies)