New Delhi

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his condolences on Saturday following the tragic demise of five Indian Army soldiers during a tank exercise in Ladakh.

In a statement on social media, Kharge expressed his sorrow over the incident, saying, Deeply saddened by the loss of lives of 5 Indian Army bravehearts, including a JCO, during the crossing of a T-72 tank across a river in Ladakh.

Kharge also offered his sympathies to the families of the deceased soldiers, stating, Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the Army personnel who tragically lost their lives in this incident.

He further remarked, During this time of mourning, the nation stands united in honoring the exemplary service of our courageous soldiers.

On Friday, the soldiers lost their lives during a tank warfare exercise in Ladakh when the Shyok river, through which they were maneuvering the tanks, experienced flooding due to a sudden increase in water levels caused by a cloud burst in the upper regions. Despite efforts by the rescue team, the mission was unsuccessful due to the swift current and rising water levels, resulting in the unfortunate loss of the five personnel.