# Yamunanagar Military Drill Accident: Chinook Heliborne Army Boat Engine Fails at Hathnikund, Two Commandos Missing > An Army training exercise turned hazardous at Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana when a boat engine failed following a Chinook helicopter jump. Three commandos escaped safely, while a multi-agency search is underway for two missing jawans. **Type:** article · **Category:** Haryana · **Published:** 2026-09-02 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/haryana/yamunanagar-ke-hathnikund-men-sena-ke-yuddhabhyasa-ke-daurana-bara-hadasa-nava-bnda-hone-se-bahe-kamando-do-ki-talasha-jari-26473 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Hathnikund Barrage, Yamunanagar Accident, Indian Army, Chinook Helicopter, Search Operation, SDRF, Pratapnagar A major military training accident took place at the Hathnikund Barrage in the Yamunanagar district of Haryana when an Army boat carrying five jawans was swept away by strong river currents. The commandos were participating in a specialized heliborne water-skills training exercise involving an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter. Following a sudden technical failure in the boat's engine near gate number 8 of the Western Yamuna Canal diversion, the craft lost control in the turbulent waters. While three soldiers managed to save themselves through quick action, two commandos remain missing. A massive multi-agency search and rescue drive is currently underway across a 20 to 35 kilometer search zone. ## Sequence of Events During the Hathnikund Water Exercise According to official details, the commandos had arrived at Hathnikund Barrage from their training center based in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, to conduct joint water-skills operational drills. The exercise was being executed after obtaining mandatory formal authorization from the local Irrigation Department. On Tuesday evening around 6 PM, the jawans jumped into the river waters directly from a Chinook helicopter as part of the specialized drill. However, shortly after the drop near diversion gate number 8 of the Western Yamuna Canal, the boat experienced a sudden technical glitch, causing its engine to shut down unexpectedly. > With the propulsion failing completely, the powerful current of the river seized control of the boat, dragging it downstream toward the barrage gates. Recognizing the immediate danger, all five jawans leaped into the raging water to avoid being crushed or submerged with the vessel. Although every commando was equipped with standard safety life jackets, the extreme speed and force of the current created highly hazardous conditions. The drifting boat eventually got jammed at gate number 8 of the Western Yamuna Canal and was later retrieved by rescue teams. ## Escape and Survival: How Three Commandos Made It Out In the high-stakes struggle against the violent water flow, three jawans demonstrated exceptional survival skills. One commando managed to grab hold of the structural gate mechanism and climbed up to safety. Two other soldiers battled the heavy currents, swimming a distance of approximately 100 meters before successfully reaching the shore. Unfortunately, the remaining two commandos were swept downstream by the swift waters and could not be immediately located. Military sources and local officials confirmed that of the two missing commandos, one hails from Jammu and Kashmir while the second belongs to Maharashtra. With more than 20 hours having elapsed since the evening accident occurred, concern for the safety of the two missing soldiers remains extremely high among military commanders and civil authorities. ## Massive Multi-Agency Search and Rescue Drive The accident immediately triggered high alert across military formations and civil administration in Yamunanagar. A large-scale search operation was organized, bringing together specialized units from multiple agencies. Around 100 Indian Army personnel were deployed to scour the riverbanks and downstream areas. Concurrently, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) originating from both Yamunanagar and neighboring Uttar Pradesh arrived at the location on Tuesday evening to execute systematic water searches. To assist the ground and water operations, IAF helicopters were dispatched to conduct continuous aerial surveillance over the Hathnikund Barrage and adjacent river channels. Pratapnagar Police Station In-charge Rohtash Kumar confirmed that police forces arrived swiftly to support the rescue mobilization. In an official press release, the Indian Army stated that during joint water-skills training at Hathnikund Barrage, a boat was caught in strong currents and swept downstream. A coordinated search effort involving the Indian Army, IAF, local police, and civil administration continues relentlessly over a 20 to 35 kilometer radius to locate the missing jawans. ## What this means for you The ongoing massive search operation and heightened emergency response at Hathnikund Barrage have led to strict monitoring and temporary movement restrictions along the Yamuna riverfront. - **Across India:** Armed forces are expected to review safety protocols and emergency propulsion backups for water-skills training exercises. This measure will ensure enhanced redundancy standards during future high-risk heliborne water drills. - **In Haryana:** Civilian boating and water activities have been temporarily suspended along a 20 to 35 kilometer downstream stretch of the Hathnikund Barrage. Local residents are advised to keep clear of the riverbanks and barrage structures while rescue teams operate. - **In Yamunanagar:** Local police stations including Pratapnagar have placed emergency diving teams and civil defense units on high alert. Villagers residing along the Yamuna channel have been instructed to immediately report any sightings or clues to the police control room. - **In Bordering Uttar Pradesh:** District authorities and SDRF teams in downstream Uttar Pradesh districts have activated river surveillance networks. Public announcements are being made in riparian villages to keep fishermen and locals informed of the rescue drive. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What caused the accident at Hathnikund Barrage? A sudden technical malfunction caused the training boat's engine to stall after commandos jumped from a Chinook helicopter, allowing strong river currents to sweep the craft away. ### 2. How many jawans were in the boat, and how many are safe? There were 5 commandos in the boat. 3 jawans managed to reach safety, while 2 commandos remain missing. ### 3. Where are the missing commandos from? According to military details, one missing commando is from Jammu and Kashmir and the other is from Maharashtra. ### 4. Which agencies are participating in the search and rescue operation? The search drive involves around 100 Indian Army personnel, IAF helicopters, SDRF units from Uttar Pradesh and Yamunanagar, Pratapnagar police, and civil administration. ### 5. Where were the troops participating in the exercise based? The commandos belonged to a Special Forces training center based in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh, and were conducting approved joint water-skills drills. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._