Army pays tribute to soldiers killed in avalanche

The Army today paid tributes to two soldiers who died in an avalanche along the Line of Control in Kashmir's Gurez sector.
Lance Naik Marigendra Nath Pramanik and Sepoy Shiv Singh were part of an operational team which was serving in the formidable heights along the LoC and got swept away during a snow slide, along with another soldier, on December 11.
Their bodies were found on December 18.
General officer Commanding of Chinar Corps Lt Gen J S Sandhu and all ranks paid homage to the soldiers in a solemn ceremony at BB Cantonment here, an army official said.

"In a show of solidarity, officials and representatives from the civil administration and other security agencies also joined in paying their last respects to the martyrs," he said.
The bodies were recovered due to the efforts of the specially equipped Avalanche Rescue Teams who were working in inhospitable conditions, he said.

Pramanik, 32, had joined the Army in 2003 and hailed from village Kumar Chak in Purva Midnapur district of West Bengal.
He is survived by his parents, wife and two children.
Sepoy Singh, 32, hailed from Gullarwala Karsouli village in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. He had first donned the uniform in 2009.

He is survived by his mother.
"The mortal remains of the martyrs were flown for last rites to their native places, where they would be laid to rest with full military honours," he said.
The official said the Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families of the soldiers and remains committed to their dignity and well-being.