As many as 16 Indian Army soldiers died on Friday afternoon after their vehicle met with an accident in Sikkim, India, Indian news portal Times Now reported.
The tragic road accident occurred after one of the Indian Army's trucks skidded off the road and fell into a gorge. The truck that met with the accident was part of a three-vehicle convoy.
The accident took place at Zema village, Lachen, North Sikkim, accoding to the new portal.
The convoy was headed to Thangu from Chatten since this morning. Enroute to Zema, the vehicle skidded down a steep slope while negotiating a sharp turn, Times Now said.
A rescue mission was immediately launched, and four injured soldiers were evacuated by air.
However, three Junior Commissioned Officers and 13 soldiers succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident, the Indian Army said through a statement.
