In a freak accident, three army soldiers fell from a chopper after the rope they were using to slither down snapped. All the injured personnel are recovering in hospital, Army said.
According to reports, the “slithering operation” was part of the ‘Army Day’ rehearsals taking place in Army’s parade ground in the national capital.
Advertisement
The incident took place on Tuesday and involved an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv. The Army has suspended slithering operations involving the chopper till a probe is completed, sources said.
Advertisement
A video that has gone viral on social media shows a total of four soldiers sliding down the chopper as part of the slithering operation using a rope which is attached to the aircraft.
The first paratrooper completes the drill safely and is seen walking away from the chopper.
Just as the second trooper is about to touch base while the third has reached midway, the fourth soldier begins to descent and suddenly the rope gives way as the three troopers come crashing down to the ground.
Watch here:
As per reports, the metal winch to which the rope was connected had fatigue cracks and finally broke.
ALH Dhruv’s broken winch (Photo: Twitter)
The ‘Army Day’ is held on January 15 every year in honour of Lieutenant General KM Kariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
ALH Dhruv is an indigenously developed helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Ceremonial parade by troops alongwith equipment-weaponry system and fly past by Jaguar fighters and Apache and Chetak helicopters met with cheers and applauds from spectators as the soldiers celebrated the 78th Army Day on Mahal Road Jagatpura here on Thursday - for the first time out of the Cantonment.
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi today hailed the ongoing Operation Sindoor as the best example of tri-service synergy under a clear-cut political directive and full freedom to act or respond. While addressing the annual Army Day press conference in Delhi today, he asserted that any future misadventure will be 'resolutely responded to'.
On Army Day the Ministry of Defence launched a portal on battlefields. The portal, released by the defence minister, has details of how to visit various well-known battlefields and war memorials, and where visitors can pay homage to those who laid down their lives.