On Thursday, January 22, 2026, a tragic road accident in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the deaths of 10 Indian Army personnel and left 10 to 11 others injured. The incident occurred when a military vehicle skidded off a mountain road and fell into a deep gorge.
Details of the Accident
Location: The accident took place at Khanni Top, which is about 9,000 feet above sea level on the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate highway.
Timing: The vehicle went off the road around 10:00 AM while navigating icy, dangerous terrain during bad weather.
Vehicle Type: The soldiers were traveling in a Casspir, a bulletproof Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle designed in South Africa.
Cause: Preliminary reports suggest the driver lost control on a sharp curve due to frost on the road. The vehicle fell nearly 200 to 250 feet into the gorge and was severely damaged.
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Fatalities: A total of 21 personnel from the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit were in the vehicle. Four soldiers were declared dead at the scene, while six others later died from their injuries, bringing the total death toll to 10.
Injuries: Ten injured soldiers were airlifted to the Command Hospital in Udhampur for specialized treatment. Several of them were reported to be in critical condition. One soldier remained under observation at the Bhaderwah sub-district hospital.
Rescue Operation: A joint rescue operation was quickly launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and local residents right after the crash.
Official Condolences
Senior national and regional leaders expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered their heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and hoped for the quick recovery of the injured.
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah praised the fast rescue efforts and instructed officials to provide the best medical care for the survivors.
Updated Accident Summary
Total Casualties: 10 soldiers have made the supreme sacrifice. 11 others are injured, bringing the total number of personnel involved to 21.
The Mission: The soldiers were traveling for an anti-terror operation (specifically an “operational duty” or “operational movement”) when the mishap occurred.
Revised Depth of Gorge: Most reports now state the vehicle plummeted approximately 200 to 300 feet into the ravine after the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp, icy bend.
Sequence of Deaths:
Four soldiers were found dead at the immediate site of the crash. Initially, 17 personnel were evacuated with injuries, but six more succumbed to their wounds shortly after reaching medical facilities.
Medical Status & Rescue Logistics
Airlift to Udhampur: Due to the severity of their injuries, 10 army soldiers were airlifted via Army helicopters to the Command Hospital in Udhampur for specialized surgery and advanced care.
Stable at Bhaderwah: One injured army soldier, whose condition is reported as stable, remains under observation at the Bhaderwah Sub-District Hospital.
Challenging Recovery:
The rescue operation was carried out in sub-zero temperatures at an altitude of 9,000 feet. The bulletproof Casspir vehicle was found “severely mangled,” making the extraction of the 21 jawans extremely difficult for the joint Army and J&K Police teams.
Strategic Context
Strategic ContextThe White Knight Corps (16 Corps) issued an official statement describing the event as an “unfortunate incident” caused by inclement weather and treacherous terrain. This tragedy follows a period of heightened security activity in the region, including an encounter in nearby Kishtwar just days earlier on January 18, which also claimed the life of a soldier.
Condolences & Support
National leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, expressed deep sorrow, stating that the entire nation stands with the bereaved families in this hour of “profound anguish”. The Northern Command and its commander, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, saluted the brave soldiers for their outstanding service and supreme sacrifice.
Officials said the bulletproof army vehicle, a Casspir, was heading for an operation when it veered off the Bhaderwah-Chamba interstate road at Khanni top and plunged into the gorge.
“Deeply saddened at the loss of lives of 10 of our brave Indian Army soldiers in an unfortunate road accident in Doda. We will always remember the outstanding service and supreme sacrifice of our brave soldiers. My deepest condolences to the grieving families,” Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said in a post on X.
“In this moment of profound sorrow, the entire nation stands united with the bereaved families in solidarity and support. 10 Injured soldiers have been airlifted to the hospital,” he added.
