Two personnel of the 1st Battalion of Sikkim Scouts, a regiment of the army, died when their vehicle fell about 300 feet down a ravine in the high-altitude Zuluk area of eastern Sikkim around 6pm on Thursday.

There were no other passengers in the vehicle.

Police identified the dead as Naik Subedar Som Bahadur Subba of Sukhia Pokhri in Darjeeling district and Lance Naik Manoj Kumar Chhetri of Yangang in Namchi district. They were both posted at the Kupup camp of the Sikkim Scouts near Zuluk.

“They were returning from the transit camp of the Sikkim Scouts located a little above Zuluk when their vehicle fell 300 feet down a ravine near a place called Iron Bridge in Zuluk. The accident happened because of poor visibility due to dense fog,” Tashi Wangyal, deputy inspector-general of police, Gangtok Range, told The Telegraph.

The duo had gone to the transit camp a little above Zuluk, which is located at an altitude of 9,500 feet near the border with China, to ferry porters working for the army.

However, by the time they had reached the camp later than scheduled because of bad weather, the porters had chosen to return by foot by taking a shortcut.

“They were very lucky not to have waited for the vehicle,” said Wangyal.

Sikkim chief minister P.S. Tamang (Golay) condoled the loss of the two army personnel.

“Deeply saddened (by their demise)…. They were both jawans of Sikkim Scouts and were on duty when the tragic incident befell. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and friends and pray for the departed souls to rest in eternal peace,” he said in a message.