Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli recently posted a heartfelt message for the seven soldiers who lost their lives as their vehicle skidded off the road and crashed into the Shyok River in Ladakh on Friday. The incident took place in the Turtuk sector in the morning, where the vehicle fell from a height of around 50-60 feet according to the officials.
Kohli took to social media to address the news and wrote, “Devastated to hear about the loss of lives of our brave soldiers. My condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the speedy recovery of all those who are injured.”
An official statement about the incident from an army spokesperson talked about how the 26 soldiers travelling to a forward location at roughly 9 am around 25 km from Thoise, their vehicle went off-road and fell in the Shyok river. The statement also addressed that there were many individuals who were seriously injured and were taken to a hospital in Partapur.
The statement read, "A party of 26 soldiers was moving from the Transit Camp in Partapur to a forward location in Sub Sector Hanif. At approximately 9 am, around 25 km from Thoise, the vehicle skidded off the road and fell in Shyok river (to a depth of approximately 50-60 ft), resulting in injuries to all occupants."
“Seven individuals have been declared fatal so far. There are grievous injuries to others as well. Dedicated efforts are underway to ensure that the best medical care is provided to the injured, including requisition of air effort from the Air Force to shift the more serious casualties to Western Command,” the statement further added.
Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore were defeated by Rajasthan Royals who booked their ticket to their first IPL final since the first season of the tournament. RCB had a below-par batting performance in the first innings as they put up only 157 runs while losing eight wickets. In the second innings, Rajasthan’s Jos Buttler played an incredible knock of 106* runs in 60 balls as the Royals registered a seven-wicket win. Buttler also levelled Kohli’s record of scoring four centuries in one season.