Ahmedabad: Sepoy Sunil Patel from Orvada village in Panchmahal district of Gujarat is among fifteen bravehearts of Indian Army who martyred in two different avalanches that struck at Gurez and Sonamarg on 25 January. Sunil was from 51 Rashtriya Rifles. His body is likely to arrive in couple of days by air at Orvada for final rites. Sunil’s father was informed today afternoon about son’s martyrdom.

Sunil’s father Takhtsinh retired from Army job after 28 years of duty in year 2015. Sunil’s two uncles, brother in law and cousin brother also work in Armed forces. Sunil’s marriage happened in 2012. In same year he joined Army through Mahar regiment center at Sagar in Madhya Pradesh. Sunil had lastly came to his home in Orvada village on fourty days leave last year. He rejoined the duty on 6 December. He had spoken to wife Pratimaben three days ago. Sunil has 3- year old daughter Arohi. Sunil has mother Sumitraben at home. Sunil’s father said his son had completed duty at the place where he died. His reliever too had reached the camp. However, due to snowfall and bad weather, helicopter could not reach with reliever and therefore Sunil had to continue his duty till the time reliever could arrive. He succumbed to death however.

Lieutenant General D Anbu, Army Commander and all ranks of Northern Command have expressed deep condolences to the families of the martyrs.

According to Army, an avalanche struck an army camp in Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir on 25 January. Rescue operations were immediately launched in extreme bad weather and heavy snow fall. The search operation enabled rescue of one JCO and six slodiers while bodies of three soldiers could only be retried yesterday morning.

In another avalanche in the same area, one Army patrol moving towards the post went missing. Te area continues to receive heavy snow fall. Braving inhospitable weather conditions, coordinated rescue operations progressed in which three bodies could be recovered yesterday.

List of which is presented here:

 

 

DeshGujarat