In Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, a tank sank in the Indira Gandhi Canal during a military exercise. Of the two soldiers, one managed to escape, while the other got trapped and succumbed to death. The rescue team retrieved his body hours later.
Sriganganagar: A major accident occurred during a military training exercise on Tuesday morning in Sriganganagar district of Rajasthan. A tank of the Indian Army suddenly sank in the Indira Gandhi Canal while training to cross it. In this accident, one of the two soldiers inside the tank died, while the other managed to escape somehow.
Immediately after the incident, a rescue operation was launched, but the trapped soldier could not be saved. His body was retrieved after several hours of a difficult rescue process. This accident has raised concerns in the region, and the army has also initiated an investigation into the causes.
Tank Accident During Military Exercise
The accident occurred while the army was conducting routine training to cross the canal. The objective of this training was to practice how armored vehicles, especially tanks, navigate various water bodies and difficult terrains. This area of Sriganganagar is considered important for military exercises due to extensive field training conducted by the army here.
There were two soldiers in the tank, and both were supposed to cross the canal as part of this training process. When the tank reached the middle of the canal, the water pressure suddenly increased, and the tank began to sink rapidly. This momentary change made the situation critical. One soldier immediately managed to get out, but the other soldier remained trapped inside.
Detailed Rescue Operation
Upon receiving information about the incident, teams from the army, along with the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Civil Defense, reached the spot. Due to its heavy weight, the tank had sunk deep into the canal, causing significant difficulties for the rescue teams. The b water current and soil pressure made the situation even more challenging.
This multi-hour operation also involved a team of divers. They located the tank inside the canal and excavated around it. Relief workers first tried to reach the tank, then slowly brought it partially to the surface. By the time they reached the tank's door, the soldier had already died. Teams had to exercise extreme caution while retrieving the body because the tank's position was highly unstable.
According to rescue team officials, the depth of the water, the current, and the tank's weight made the rescue difficult. This accident has also raised questions about safety procedures during military exercises, and it is hoped that the situation will become clearer after the investigation.
Preliminary Investigation by Police and Army
Police stated that this was part of routine training where armored vehicles practice crossing canals. Such exercises are crucial for the army as they practice methods of crossing water, swamps, or rivers in real combat situations.
However, the clear cause of this accident, whether it was a technical malfunction or entirely a result of errors during training, has not yet emerged. Police stated that the soldier's body would undergo a post-mortem examination on Wednesday, after which further action would be taken.
The army has also initiated a detailed internal investigation into this incident. The cause of the tank's sinking, the piloting situation, communication gaps, and the use of safety equipment will also be thoroughly examined.
Both soldiers inside the tank attempted to escape at the time of the incident. According to the statement of the soldier who managed to get out, he immediately tried to exit when the tank began to sink into the water. However, the trapped soldier did not get a proper opportunity to escape. The water was rising rapidly, and the internal pressure of the tank was very high. The soldier who escaped also sustained some minor injuries and is under the supervision of the medical team.
