Six ITBP personnel killed in road accident

Gangtok, May 8 (UNI) At least six Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel died on the spot, when their vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a ravine at Makha-Dikchu in Singtam sub-division of East district.

The six personnel, who belonged to the second battalion of the ITBP, were going to their unit at Arunachal Pradesh yesterday, after completing a short exercise at Pedang in north Sikkim.

Though the exact cause of the accident was not yet known, police suspect inability of the driver to control the vehicle and negotiate a sharp curve, caused it.

The victims were identified as Inspector Satish Kumar, Head Constable Naresh Kumar and Karan Singh, Hari Singh, Kuldeep Singh and driver Ranjit Singh.

By evening, all the bodies, some arms and ammunition and their personal belongings were retreived from the ravine.

Efforts are on to fly the bodies of the deceased to their homes today.

UNI BD SP PL AD KN1421