According to initial reports, the blast was caused by a lightning strike but reports now suggest a possible ambush by terrorists.
Five soldiers were killed on Thursday afternoon after their Army truck caught fire following gun firing and grenade attacks by terrorists, the Army said in a statement. The incident took place on a highway in the Bhata Dhurian area in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.
"Today, at about 1500 hours, one vehicle of Indian army, while moving from Bhimber Gali to Sangiot in district Poonch (J&K), caught fire," said Public Relations Officer (Defence), Jammu.
The five deceased personnel were from the Rashtriya Rifles unit deployed for counter-terrorism operations in the area, the Army said in a statement. Another soldier, who was injured, was evacuated immediately and taken to the Army Hospital at Rajouri, where he is undergoing treatment.
“Operations are in progress to locate the perpetrators,” the statement added.
Visuals shared by the news agency showed an Army truck in flames. Semi-burnt bodies of the soldiers were seen lying on the road beside the burning vehicle.
Army and police personnel rushed to the spot, which is 90 kilometres from Poonch. The area was cordoned off and vehicular traffic was stopped on the highway.