5 Indian soldiers die near China border after tank sinks in river

Five Indian soldiers were killed when a military tank they were traveling in sank as they crossed a river in the remote Ladakh region bordering China, officials said Saturday.

The tank sank early on Saturday due to a sudden increase in the water level of the Shyok River during a military training activity, according to a statement from the Indian Army command center.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called it an “unfortunate accident”.

“We will never forget the exemplary service of our gallant soldiers to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. The nation stands with them in this hour of grief,” Singh wrote on social media platform X.

The skirmish has turned into a protracted standoff in the rugged mountainous region, where each side has stationed tens of thousands of troops. New Delhi and Beijing have held a series of diplomatic and military talks to resolve their worst military conflict in decades.

The border dispute between India and China dates back to the 1950s and the two sides fought a war over it in 1962.