The townlets of Uttarakhand’s Garhwal region are reeling in shock and grief, after 5 soldiers of the Garhwal Rifles troop were martyred in a militant ambush on an Indian Army convoy in Kathua, Jammu.
This woeful incident has left families and communities devastated.
Among the fallen soldiers was 26-year-old Rifleman Adarsh Negi from Thatti Dagar village in Tehri Garhwal. Adarsh, the youngest of three siblings, had joined the Garhwal Rifles in 2018 after completing his intermediate education at a local government school. His family, like others in the region, was stunned to hear the news late Monday night.
The other soldiers who lost their lives in the attack were Naib Subedar Anand Singh Rawat from Kandakhal village in Rudraprayag district, Havaldar Kamal Singh from Papri village in Pauri Garhwal, Naik Vinod Singh from Chaund Jaspur in Tehri Garhwal, and Rifleman Anuj Negi from Dobariya village in Pauri Garhwal. Each hailed from close-knit communities where news of their deaths has plunged everyone into mourning.
Reports indicate that the ambush was carried out by a significant group of militants, following earlier reports of successful infiltration in the area. The attack underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by the armed forces in the region.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami condemned the dastardly attack, expressing deep anguish over the loss of the soldiers.
He emphasized that the sacrifices made by these brave soldiers would not go in vain. “This is a moment of extreme pain for all of us because we’ve also lost brothers and sons,” Dhami stated, reflecting on the deep service tradition of Uttarakhand.
Dhami assured that those responsible for the attack, as well as anyone harboring them, would face severe consequences. He called upon the nation to recognize the bravery of the soldiers and extend support to their grieving families. “The adversaries of humanity won’t be spared at any cost,” he affirmed.
The news of the soldiers’ deaths has sent shockwaves through the townlets they called home, highlighting the sacrifices made by these stalwart men in service to the nation.