Two Army personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel, lost their lives and three officers sustained injuries when a boulder fell on an SUV that was part of a military convoy in a remote area of eastern Ladakh on Wednesday, officials said.

The incident occurred at Charbagh near Durbuk in the Galwan region, approximately 200 km from Leh, around 11.30 am. The Army identified the deceased as Lt Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh (14 Sindh Horse).

The injured have been identified as Major Mayank Shubham (14 Sindh Horse), Major Amit Dixit and Captain Gaurav (60 Armoured). They were immediately evacuated to the military hospital in Leh, where they are currently undergoing treatment.

In a statement on X, the Ladakh-based Fire and Fury Corps said: “The GOC, Fire and Fury Corps, and all ranks salute Lieutenant Colonel Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia and Lance Dafadar Daljit Singh, who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Ladakh on July 30, 2025. We offer our deepest condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief.”

According to the statement, a boulder fell from a cliff onto one of the vehicles in the convoy, after which a rescue operation was launched immediately. Sources said the convoy was en route from Durbuk to Chongtash for a training mission when the accident occurred. Rescue teams faced considerable difficulty in extracting the injured, as the vehicle was crushed by the impact of the boulder. The driver, Daljit Singh, was trapped inside the vehicle and succumbed to his injuries.

Message from CO 5 SIKH👇🏻

Today we lost one of our own. Lt Col Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia had done part of his attachment with 5 SIKH( my Bn) while we were in Handangbrok, Batalik Sector. Originally from Scinde Horse.

He was an excellent officer, thorough professional, a brilliant sportsman and a perfect gentleman. The list of his accolades is very distinguisehd – ACA in Academy, Passed out with the coveted Sword of Honour, Best in YO Course, recently finished Staff Course and even won the Scudder’s Medal (Best in Academics) at DSSC, Wellington.

A fourth generation Army Officer, father is a Retd Guards Officer. His brother is serving in RajRif. Married to an army officer’s daughter and blessed with a baby boy.

We pray to Waheguru to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss.

Salute to Bhanu & prayers for his family.