Three soldiers, part of a patrol party near the LoC in north Kashmir’s Machhal Sector, in the Kupwara district were killed due to a snow-slide.

These soldiers have been identified as Gunner Souvik Hazra (22) of Bankura district in West Bengal, Naik Gaikwad Manoj Laxman Rao (41) of Maharashtra and Lance Naik Mukesh Kumar (22) of Rajasthan.

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Giving details of the mishap, a defence spokesman said on Saturday that a routine link patrol was undertaken on the intervening night of 17 and 18 November in Machhal Sector. During the patrol, Gunner Souvik Hazra, complained of breathing difficulty. After initial assessment, it was planned to evacuate him to the nearest post. On approaching the nearest post, the tail of the patrol party came under a massive snow slide. A search and rescue operation was immediately launched with troops from the nearest post also moved to undertake the operation.

Meanwhile, medical condition of Gunner Souvik Hazra, who was diagnosed with hyperthermia, started deteriorating. An air evacuation request was raised at about 10.30 am and he was evacuated to 168 Military Hospital, Kupwara where the braveheart later succumbed to his medical condition.

The search party at the snow slide site located Lance Naik Mukesh Kumar. He was moved to the nearby post and further evacuated to 168 MH, Kupwara at about 2.30 PM by helicopter. The braveheart, however, succumbed to his medical condition at the Military Hospital. Naik Gaikwad Manoj Laxman Rao was still missing.

In the meantime, a specialised rescue team along with avalanche rescue dog from Z Gali were airlifted and immediately inducted to locate the missing individual. After extensive search, Naik Gaikwad Manoj Laxman Rao was recovered at around 4.30 PM and was air evacuated to 168 MH, Kupwara. The braveheart also could not be revived and succumbed to his medical condition.

Mortal remains of the three bravehearts will be taken for last rites to their respective native places, where they would be laid to rest with full military honours. In this hour of grief, the Indian Army stands in solidarity with the bereaved families and remains committed to their dignity and wellbeing, the spokesman added.