At least five soldiers were killed and five others injured when a vehicle carrying them skidded off the road and rolled into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Tuesday evening, Army officials said .

The accident occurred in Gharoa area when an army vehicle was heading towards Banoi in the district, they said, adding that rescue teams recovered five bodies. The vehicle plunged into a gorge approximately 300 to 350 feet deep, they added.

“All ranks of the White Knight Corps extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of five brave soldiers in a vehicle accident while on operational duty in the Poonch sector. Rescue operations are underway and injured personnel are receiving medical treatment,” White Knight Corps wrote on X.

All grades of #WhiteKnightCorps extend their deepest condolences for the tragic loss of five brave soldiers in a car accident while on operational duty in the #Poonch sector.

Rescue operations continue and the injured are receiving medical treatment.@adgpi…

– White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) December 24, 2024

The accident reportedly occurred around 5:40 p.m. when the vehicle of 11 Maratha LI deployed in an area heading towards Balnoi along the LoC, fell into a gorge, injuring 10 soldiers, including the driver, YOU reported citing sources.

With the contribution of agencies.