Two troop carriers were involved in a crash while returning from a Joint Indo-UK army exercise in southwest England, resulted in severe injuries to 21 Indian military personnel and two British soldiers.
Indian defence sources said the accident took place last evening when the troops of both countries were coming back after the day’s joint exercise which is being held from June 13-28.
Here’s what the sources had to say:
“The troop carrier vehicles were being driven by British soldiers. They met with an accident on a by-way while returning from the Salisbury Plain. The injured were immediately evacuated by helicopters. A Captain and a Havaldar were seriously injured while rest got minor injuries,” the sources said.
A British Army spokesperson said, “We can confirm that there has been a road traffic collision in the Salisbury Plain training area in which it is understood there are a number of casualties. The British Army is supporting Wiltshire Police and South West ambulance service with their response to the incident which will be duly investigated”
At least two people were airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries during the incident at Salisbury Plain, a military training area owned by the UK’s Ministry of Defence.
“We had reports of four to five people with life-changing injuries and approximately 16 others walking wounded. The road traffic collision happened on a by-way which cuts through the plain, hence why we were called,” a Wiltshire Police spokesperson said following the incident which occurred in a field near Westdown Camp.
India and the UK began undertaking a two-week Army exercise ‘Ajeya Warrior’ from June 13 focusing on joint tactical level operations in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism.
#HM22 first on scene at a critical incident on #SalisburyPlain – multiple patients, some critical. Now x3 aircraft on scene. 16 Pts in total
— Wilts Air Ambulance (@WiltsAirAmbu) June 17, 2015
The exercise is taking place at Westdown Camp, Salisbury Plains Training Area in UK.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “We are aware of an incident in the training area of Salisbury Plain. We are not absolutely certain of the details and until we are, we will not be making any comment.”