Three Indian Army Agniveers who vanished in the Dibang Valley floods on August 14 have been officially declared dead, the Army announced on Saturday after DNA tests confirmed their identities.
The soldiers were on duty in the rugged Dibang region of Arunachal Pradesh when a sudden cloudburst triggered landslides and flash floods, sweeping them away from their post.
Identified as Aditya Kumar, Kundan Kumar and Vinod Yadav, the trio had been part of a unit deployed for security duties in the remote terrain. Aditya hailed from Vaishali in Bihar, Kundan also came from Bihar, while Vinod was a native of Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh.
Eastern Army Commander Lt General V.M.B. Krishnan, accompanied by personnel of all ranks, paid tribute to the fallen men, describing their sacrifice as an act of valour performed while fulfilling their responsibilities.
Following the disappearance, search teams recovered mortal remains several days later. DNA analysis carried out by the armed forces laboratory established the identity of each soldier, after which the remains were handed over to the grieving families.
Urns containing the ashes reached the soldiers' native villages on Saturday. In Vaishali, Aditya Kumar received full military honours before his ashes were taken back home, where villagers organised a Tiranga Yatra to salute the martyr.
Families of Vinod Yadav in Auraiya and Kundan Kumar in Bihar endured weeks of uncertainty before the DNA results brought closure. The Army has pledged continued support to the bereaved during this period of grief.
The tragedy unfolded amid a broader monsoon emergency that has battered states such as Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Mizoram, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand with heavy rains, floods, landslides and lightning incidents.
Despite the challenging geography of the Dibang area, the armed forces remain committed to their duties and to standing firmly with the families of the three Agniveers who gave their lives in service.
Image: mangalorean.com
📰 Source: Mangalorean News