Junior Commanding Officer M.R.K. Reddy, Subhan Khan, Bhupendra Negi, Ekeidung Tiebam n Sadarbonia Nagaraju swept away in expeditious current of a river in Leh Ladakh. RIP

While the entire nation is rejoicing today on its historic T – 20 ICC World championships triumph over South Africa , the entire nation has on Friday night went through a tragic shock of the casualties of five bravehearts when their tank got stuck in a massive flash flood of Shyock river in the Daulat Beg Oldie ( DBO) region of the eastern Ladakh near the line of actual control with China. Those who were martyred in this tragedy were the 52 Armoured regimental soldiers namely Junior Commanding Officer M.R.K. Reddy, Subhan Khan, Bhupendra Negi, Ekeidung Tiebam n Sadarbonia Nagaraju. The union defence minister Rajnath Singh while expressing his deepest condolences and serious concern over this tragedy wrote on his social media handle X : 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 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 said union defence minister while expressing his grief on this tragic occassion.

The four jawans commanded by JCO MRK Reddy were de inducting from a military exercise in the Russian origin T-72 Tank when the tragedy occured due to the sudden surge in the water level of river Shyock near Saser Brangsa leading to sweeping away of these bravehearts in the heavy n forceful current of surreptitiously flowing floods.

The rescue teams including the combat engineers in boats etc rushed to the spot of the tragedy but couldn’t be saved as the water current was uncontrollable with the dead bodies of the brave hearts recovered later on. RIP

It may be recalled that martyred Bhupendra Singh Negi’s wife lives in Dehradun to teach children. His mother had passed away earlier. While father also lives with him in Dehradun the anguished n traumatised family members of sacrificed soldier late Bhupendra Singh Negi will reach his native village Bishald today. Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Bhupendra Negi are likely to reach Lansdowne by late evening.

Bhupendra was originally a resident of Vishald village of Pabau block in Pauri district.