After 38 years in control of the Siachen Glacier in Ladakh (now the Union Territory), Indian troops on Monday recovered the remains of a soldier who went missing during Operation Megdut in 1984.
He was identified as Lance Naik Chandrashekhar Singh of 19 Kumaon, in an official statement issued by Udhampur-based defence expert Lt Col Abhinav, as part of a 20-man army patrol that went to Shankar Top on the 29th. PRO said he identified it from an army disk, adding that details about the soldier were extracted from army records.
He added that the remains will soon be handed over to the family of Lance Naik Chandrashekhar in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. Lance Naik Chandrashekhar’s family, including his wife Shanti Devi and two daughters, bid him farewell like a beaver, Lieutenant Colonel Abhinav said.
Lance Naik Chandrashekhar’s wife Shanti Devi is originally from Almora and currently lives in the Saraswati Vihar colony in Haldwani. Arriving at Shanti Devi’s home, Haldwani’s associate collectors Manish Kumar and Tehsildar Sanjay Kumar said his final ceremony was performed in full military honor.
Shanti Devi said at the time that they had been married for nine years and she was 28 years old. Her eldest daughter is four years old and her youngest daughter is one and a half years old.
Shanti Devi said she was proud of her husband as he prioritized serving the country. According to available information, Almora Dwarahat resident Lance Naik Chandrashekhar joined the army in 1975.
On the morning of April 13, 1984, the Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot to seize control of the Siachen Glacier and prevent Pakistan’s plans to conquer it.
Army PRO said the bodies of 12 of the 20 soldiers were recovered during a search operation, while the remains of the rest, including Lance Naik Chandrashekhar Singh, were never found.
But as fate would have it, 38 years later, a patrol of Rajasthani Rifles stumbled upon a shelter that appeared to have been destroyed by an avalanche. While searching the area, they found remains, torn clothing and a military disc, he said.
“This soldier’s sacrifice exemplifies the ‘serving before self’ spirit of the Indian Army. His duty is to keep advancing despite the insidious terrain and inclement climate, ultimately making the ultimate sacrifice. This discovery reinforces the A sense of responsibility for every soldier currently serving on the Siachen Glacier,” said Lieutenant Colonel Abhinav. (with PTI input)