At least 16 Indian soldiers were killed on Friday when their vehicle skidded off the road in the mountainous north-eastern state of Sikkim.
Four soldiers were injured in the accident in the Zema area of Sikkim, the Indian Army said.
“The accident happened when the vehicle skidded down a steep slope while negotiating a sharp turn,” the army statement said.
The injured were taken to the nearest hospital, authorities said, with no updates on their condition provided immediately.
Sikkim is bordered by Bhutan, Nepal and China and is a strategic region for New Delhi.
India is developing its military and civilian infrastructure in the remote state to match rival China in the middle of a dispute over the undemarcated border between the two nations.
New Delhi last week accused Beijing of attempting to change the status quo on the border, saying People's Liberation Army troops had entered its territory in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Indian Army said at least six of its soldiers were injured when the rival troops clashed. Injuries on the Chinese side are not known.
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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