Ranchi/Srinagar, April 7: Three soldiers from Jharkhand lost their lives after multiple avalanches struck their post in the Batalik sector of Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir last evening.
The army found the bodies of havildar Prabhu S. Kirke (43), lance naik Bihari Marandi (34) and sepoy Kuldeep Lakra (22) below 15ft of snow between last evening and this morning.
Kirke was a native of Itki block in Ranchi while Lakra was a resident of Mandar in the same district. Marandi hailed from Pakur district in Santhal Pargana. Chief minister Raghubar Das expressed his condolences to the bereaved families this evening and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for each.
"Five soldiers were trapped under the snow, Srinagar defence spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia said today, adding, "Two were pulled out alive yesterday and are under treatment. Two bodies were also retrieved late evening yesterday and another today, taking the toll to three."
The army had pressed in specialised avalanche rescue teams and equipment that continued the job despite inclement weather. "Special teams toiled in inhospitable weather and 15ft snow overnight; body of third soldier retrieved.
"Soldiers martyred guarding icy heights," the Northern Command of the Indian Army said in a tweet.
In a separate incident today, several soldiers were rescued in the Kaksar sector of Kargil when avalanches swept away their men and machinery. "Avalanches hit posts in Kaksar Sector. All affected soldiers safely rescued. Damage to equipment and stores being recouped," the Northern Command tweeted.
Pradhan Marandi, the eldest brother of lance naik Bihari Marandi, was among the first in Jharkhand to know about the tragedy. "Someone from the army called me last night to say my brother was missing after an avalanche around 6pm and they feared he was dead. We are expecting the body to arrive tomorrow," Pradhan said.
The brother recalled that the soldier had come home to Ramnathpur village in Hiranpur block of Pakur in January to look for a bride. "Bihari didn't choose any girl then and we were hoping he would come again next month," Pradhan said.
Lakra, also a bachelor, was a resident of Bisakatanga village in Mandar, 40km from the capital. He was the youngest among four siblings, all sisters.
Kirke, on the other hand, is survived by his widow Suche Kirke and two minor sons. According to Filmon Lakra, officer-in-charge of Itki police station, one of the boys studies in Class 10 and the other is a seventh grader.
The officer had visited Kirke's thatched house in Simra village, 25km from the capital, this afternoon, but found it locked. "I was told that the family has moved to Lowadih," he said, adding that the jawan's body was expected to reach Ranchi tomorrow night.
Rural SP of Ranchi Rajkumar Lakra said he was yet to receive a communiqué about the three deaths. "We are trying to establish contact with the victims' families," he added.
