A devastating accident in eastern Ladakh claimed the lives of Lieutenant Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh when a massive boulder struck their military vehicle during a convoy movement from Durbuk to Chongtash on Wednesday morning.

The incident, which occurred around 11:30 AM at Charbagh near Durbuk, approximately 200 km from Leh, also left three officers—two majors and a captain—seriously injured. The injured personnel were promptly evacuated to an Army hospital in Leh for treatment.

The Army’s Fire and Fury Corps, based in Leh, reported that the boulder fell from a cliff, crushing an SUV in the convoy during a routine training exercise. The vehicle was severely damaged, and the two soldiers succumbed to their injuries on the spot.

The corps expressed profound condolences, stating, “All ranks salute Lieutenant Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.” Recovery operations are ongoing, and the incident underscores the hazardous conditions faced by military personnel in Ladakh’s rugged terrain.

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