Army soldier dies in accidental weapon discharge in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector
Representational image. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)
New Delhi: An Indian Army soldier died on Sunday after his service rifle accidentally discharged while he was on operational duty at a forward post in the Jogwan area of Khour in Jammu’s Akhnoor sector, officials said on Monday. The soldier succumbed to his injuries despite receiving immediate medical assistance.
According to officials, preliminary findings indicate that the soldier’s service weapon discharged accidentally, causing critical injuries. He was rushed for medical treatment but could not be saved.
The body was shifted to Military hospital Akhnoor for a postmortem examination. Officials said it would be handed over to the soldier’s family after the completion of legal formalities.
The identity of the soldier has not been disclosed. Authorities have also not released further details on the circumstances surrounding the accidental discharge, and the incident is being treated as a non-combat fatality.
The Khour-Akhnoor sector is an operationally sensitive area in Jammu, located close to the line of control (LoC). The region has witnessed cross-border firing, infiltration attempts and drone-related activity in the past, although officials said there was no indication of hostile action in the latest incident.
The incident comes less than two weeks after another non-combat Army fatality in the Jammu region. On 22 July, Rifleman Sukhpreet Singh (27) died after accidentally slipping from a height while on duty at the forward Mahadev post in the Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district near the LoC.
Officials had said Sukhpreet Singh lost his balance while performing official duties and succumbed to his injuries. Police initiated inquest proceedings before the body was sent to his native Punjab for the last rites.
While the two incidents occurred under different circumstances, both involved soldiers deployed in forward operational areas and were classified as non-combat fatalities. The Army has not issued a separate statement on Sunday’s incident, and further details are expected after the completion of the inquiry.
