In a tragic incident during a routine military drill, an Indian Army soldier lost his life after an armoured tank became stuck and gradually sank in the Indira Gandhi Canal in Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district. The mishap occurred on Tuesday morning while units were engaged in inland water-crossing training, a standard but complex exercise conducted to prepare troops for combat operations in challenging terrain.
According to officials, two soldiers were inside the tank when the accident occurred. As the vehicle attempted to negotiate the canal, it reportedly became lodged in the soft bed and began taking in water. One soldier managed to escape in time, but the other was trapped inside as the tank sank deeper. Despite immediate attempts by accompanying personnel to rescue him, strong water currents and the tank’s weight made access extremely difficult.
Police, along with teams from the State Disaster Response Force and civil defence, were called to the site soon after the distress call was raised. A prolonged operation followed as divers and rescue workers tried to reach the submerged section of the vehicle. After several hours of effort, the trapped soldier’s body was finally recovered.
Authorities have confirmed that the postmortem will take place on Wednesday. Senior officers are also expected to review the circumstances leading to the incident to ensure no procedural lapses occurred. Such canal-crossing exercises are considered essential for armoured units, but they also involve high levels of technical coordination and risk.
The incident has cast a pall of grief over the Army unit involved, with tributes pouring in for the soldier who died in the line of duty. A formal inquiry is likely to be initiated to examine the sequence of events and to assess whether safety protocols need further strengthening to prevent similar accidents in the future.
Image is for representation only
