Lt Colonel, Soldier Killed in Tragic Accident on Chugtuk–Chongtash Road in Ladakh
Leh, July 30:
A tragic accident on the treacherous Chugtuk–Chongtash road in Ladakh claimed the lives of two Indian Army personnel on Tuesday. Among the deceased were Lieutenant Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh, who among three other officers were on duty when the mishap occurred.
Among the injured were Maj Shubham Mayank, Maj Amit Dixit, and Capt Gaurav. They were in line of duty when the sudden landslide hit the convoy plunging it into the Gorge.
They have been shifted to the Army hospital Leh.
The Indian Army mourned the loss of its brave men, with the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Fire and Fury Corps, and all ranks paying rich tributes to the fallen soldiers.
Lt Col Mankotia originally belongs to Tiara in Shahpur in Kangra district but the family has shifted to Pathankot.
Maj Vijay Singh Mankotia in his tribute to the martyrs saud: “We salute Lieutenant Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty on July 30, 2025.
"We've lost, tragically, a brilliant officer. He had distinguished himself at every level of his profession starting by being awarded the Sword of Honour at the IMA and topping the Staff College at Wellington (Nilgris).
"We are the poorer by this irreparable loss of one who was destined to achieve the highest, but whom destiny itself snatched away in its own inscrutable and unfathomable way.
Our heart goes out to the two families and we grieve for Dfd Daljit Singh's demise also, he said.
Our deepest condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” the Army said in a statement.
The Chugtuk–Chongtash road, known for its extreme terrain and unpredictable weather, lies close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and is of critical strategic importance.
The convoy they were traveling in was hit be a hooting rock that smashed the vehicle. All efforts to save the unfortunate due failed as they received fatal injuries and died inside the sandwiched vehicle, sources said.
The Fire and Fury Corps, responsible for the Ladakh sector, acknowledged the valor and dedication of the soldiers and affirmed the Army’s unwavering support to their families.
Official Army Spokesperson have expressed heartfelt tributes on behalf of all ranks of Indian Army to the bravehearts, reinforcing the nation’s gratitude for their service.
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