An Army Gypsy on fire in Sriganganagar district. Tribune photo

Our Correspondent

Abohar, March 25

Three soldiers were burnt alive and five others injured when a Gypsy overturned and caught fire during a training exercise on the Raziasar-Chhatargarh road in Sriganganagar district early today.

The incident took place around 1 am “near Gopalsar during the night training task when unfortunately 3 fatalities were reported”, said Defence PRO Lt Col Amitabh Sharma.

A source said eight soldiers of Bathinda-based 47-AD Army unit were in the vehicle when the mishap occurred. Three charred bodies were found from the wreckage, while five injured soldiers were admitted to the government hospital in Suratgarh, from where they were shifted to the Military Hospital.

Lt Col Sharma said the incident occurred during a routine exercise when the soldiers were being given different tasks.

Raziasar police station in charge Vikram Tiwari said the mishap occurred near Burji (pillar) No. 330 of the Indira Gandhi Canal. The vehicle rammed into shrubs, hit a tree before overturning. A fire erupted giving occupants little chance to escape, said the sources.

The deceased have been identified as Subedar EV Nazar of Andhra Pradesh, Havildars Dev Kumar Bhattacharya of West Bengal and SK Shukla of Uttar Pradesh.

Those injured are Captain Ankit Vajpayee (34), soldiers SK Prajapati (35), Umesh Yadav (27) Ashok Ojha (28) and Bhanwer Lal Bablu (27). Three of them suffered grievous injuries.

Senior Army officers visited the scene and initiated a probe. The police said an accident case had been registered. The bodies were being taken by the Army to native places of the deceased for last rites.

(With agency inputs )