Watch: 3 Paratroopers fall from helicopter after rope snaps during Army Day rehearsal

Three Army personnel were injured, one of them seriously, while carrying out "slithering" operations from an advanced light helicopter (ALH) at the Army's parade ground in Delhi on Tuesday.

Slithering is an exercise where troops are dropped from a helicopter in an area of operation using a rope attached to the chopper. Material failure apparently seems to be the reason behind the incident.

The soldiers were reportedly slithering down a Dhruv advanced light helicopter, ALH Dhruv—an indigenously developed helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)— which was hovering over 50 feet. They were rehearsing for the annual Army Day parade which is annually held on January 15.

Quoting top sources The Tribune reported: “Slithering operations have been suspended till the cause of the accident is known.” The Army is suspecting material failure–in simple terms a fault with the material and its sturdiness on the copter.”