Three Army personnel were killed and several others injured when their vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday.
The accident occurred on the Trans Arunachal Highway near Tapi village, police said.
The deceased soldiers have been identified as Havildar Nakhat Singh, Naik Mukesh Kumar, and Grenadier Ashish Kumar, according to Army sources.
The accident took place at around 6 AM when the Army truck, part of a convoy transporting personnel, veered off the road and fell into the gorge.
The convoy was en route from Daporijo, the district headquarters, to Basar in Leparada district when the mishap occurred. Local youths and villagers rushed to the scene, assisting in the evacuation of the injured and retrieval of the bodies.
Locals alleged that poor-quality construction on the highway, particularly on roadside culverts, has contributed to frequent accidents in the area.
They claimed the ongoing work on Package-7 of the Trans Arunachal Highway has not met safety standards, posing serious risks to commuters.
In a post on X, the Army’s Eastern Command expressed condolences, stating, “Lt Gen RC Tiwari, #ArmyCdrEC & 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 #ArunachalPradesh. The Indian Army stands firmly with the bereaved families.”
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu also expressed his grief, posting, “I am deeply pained by the loss of lives of three @adgpi 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 highest regards.”
Khandu added his prayers for the departed souls, stating, “Om Mani Padme Hum.”
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