A tragic accident during a routine military training exercise in Rajasthan claimed the life of an Indian Army soldier on Tuesday morning. An Army tank sank in the Indira Gandhi Canal, leading to the drowning of one jawan who was trapped inside the vehicle.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The incident occurred in the Rajiyasar police station area of Sriganganagar district. According to local police, the exercise was focused on practising canal-crossing manoeuvres with armoured vehicles. Sriganganagar SP Amrita Duhan provided details of the sequence of events. She stated that as part of the drill, a tank was lowered into the Indira Gandhi Canal. When the tank reached the mid-point of the waterway, it began to sink rapidly.
While two of the jawans inside the tank managed to escape to safety, one soldier could not get out in time and was trapped within the sinking vehicle. Despite immediate rescue efforts, the jawan drowned.
Immediate Rescue and Recovery Efforts
Army personnel launched a swift rescue operation, deploying divers and using specialised equipment in an attempt to save the trapped soldier. Senior Army officers rushed to the scene to coordinate the efforts to retrieve both the tank and the jawan's body.
The police team, led by the in-charge of the Rajiyasar police station, arrived in the afternoon to assist. The complex operation continued into the late evening. Following recovery, the jawan's body was transported to Suratgarh Military Hospital for further procedures.
Official Response and Pending Investigation
As of Tuesday, the Indian Army had not issued a formal statement regarding the precise circumstances of the accident or revealed the identity of the deceased soldier. SP Duhan confirmed that the Army had not yet shared any information about the fallen jawan.
A formal report from the Army is expected to be released on Wednesday, which may shed more light on the cause of the tank sinking during what was described as a routine exercise. The incident has cast a shadow over the training drill, highlighting the inherent risks involved in military operations, even during practice sessions.
