Three soldiers of Indian Army, all from Jharkhand, lost their lives after multiple avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall hit an army post in Batalic Sector of laddakh in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
The three jawans have been identified as Havildar Prabhu Sahay Tirkey, lance Naik Bihari Marandi and Sepoy Kuldeep lakra. Tirkey, 43, was from Semra village and larka, 22, was from Bishakha Tanga village of Ranchi while 34-year old Marandi was from Ramnathpur of Pakur district.
Following the multiple avalanches that occurred in the area on Thursday, two out of the five soldiers who were there in the post, were rescued while all the other three hailing from Jharkhand could not be saved. They died due to the injuries suffered in the incident.
Though lakra’s family was shocked to hear about the incident over phone from an Army Officer, but his father is proud of his son.
“I am proud of my son’s martyrdom as the whole country is. He was my only son of the four children, he also left us. He had taken a loan to construct this house which could not be completed,” said lakra’s father. He said that since his son had sacrificed his life for the country, the Government should make our dreams come true.
lakra’s elder sister also said that all their dreams were shattered with the death of her brother.
“Now his photograph is the only recourse, but he will always remain in our hearts,” said one of lakra’s sisters. He used to say that he will marry only after marrying the three sisters, she said.
All the three sisters of lakra are elder to him and are unmarried who also had made their contributions to educate lakra along with their father, a farmer, even by working as a daily wage labourer.
Elder brother of Prabhu Sahay Tirkey, Manish Tirkey was also informed about the tragic incident by the officer in charge of Itki police station.
“Prabhu is survived by his wife Sucheta Tirkey and two sons who are staying in Ranchi. The elder son is about 10-year old while the younger son is about 5 years old,” said his elder brother Manish Tirkey. He was the second among the three brothers and was about to take retirement very soon, he added.
Prabhu’s family members also work as farmers.
Meanwhile, expressing condolences to the family members of the martyred families, Chief Minister Raghubar Das has announced a financial assistance of Rs two lakh to each of the martyred families.
“Condolences to the brave hearts, all three sons of the soil sacrificed their lives while protecting the country. Their sacrifices will not go in vain and the whole population of Jharkhand is with the martyred families. All possible help will be provided to them,” stated Das in his message.
Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, expressing condolences to the martyred soldiers, said that may god give them enough courage to sustain grief in this hour of need.
Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary Alok Kumar Dubey also said that the whole team was with them. Dubey also appealed the State Government to provide all honours to aggrieved families.