Gangtok: At least 16 Army personnel, including 3 JCOs, were killed and 4 others injured when an Army vehicle carrying them fell into a deep gorge in Zema on Friday.
'This vehicle was part of a 3-vehicle convoy that had moved from Chatten in the morning towards Thangu. Enroute at Zema, the vehicle skidded down a steep slope while negotiating a shrp turn', said a statement from Ministry of Defence.
Relief and rescue operations are going on.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed grief over the tragedy.
