Two Indian soldiers missing after Army boat capsizes in Yamuna
incident raises questions about professionalism of Indian troops
New Delhi: Two Indian Army soldiers went missing after a military boat capsized in strong currents in the Yamuna River at Hathnikund Barrage in India’s Haryana state, Indian officials said.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 01, during a joint watermanship training exercise being conducted by the Indian Army at the barrage. The soldiers were present there as part of the military training aimed at practising watermanship and boat-handling skills.
An official statement said the boat was caught in strong currents towards the downstream side of the barrage during the training exercise. Efforts were made to retrieve the boat, but it became trapped in strong eddies around the sluice gates and subsequently capsized, causing members of the crew to be swept away by the powerful currents.
The statement confirmed that two members of the crew remained missing.
A joint search and rescue operation involving the Indian Army, Air Force, local police and civil administration was launched to locate the missing soldiers. Officials said all available resources were being used in the operation to trace and recover them.
The incident also raises questions about the professionalism and preparedness of personnel involved in such exercises, as inadequate training, skills or operational readiness can increase risks during high-risk watermanship activities.
