GUWAHATI, India — A truck carrying Indian troopers skidded down a steep slope right into a gorge in India’s distant northeast on Friday, killing no less than 16, the military stated.

Four different troopers had been injured within the accident in Chatten, 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Gangtok, the Sikkim state capital, it stated.

The accident occurred when the automobile was making a pointy activate a mountain highway, the military stated in an announcement.

The injured troopers had been taken by air to a close-by military hospital, it stated.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh stated he was deeply pained by the lack of the troopers’ lives.

Accidents are widespread on India’s poorly maintained roads. More than 110,000 persons are killed annually in highway accidents throughout India, in accordance with police. Most accidents are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and getting old autos.