Dhenkanal: Odia jawan Saroj Kumar Das, who went missing along with 22 other Army personnel following a flash flood in Teesta river basin that was triggered by a cloudburst over Lhonak lake in North Sikkim, has breathed his last, a source said Thursday.
Havildar Saroj hailed from Kendudhipa village under Kamakhyanagar block of Dhenkanal district.
As family members of Saroj identified his body through a video call, a pal of gloom descended his village.
Deceased jawan’s brother Manoj informed that Army authorities contacted the family members and asked them to identify the body of Saroj.
“We identified him through a mole. Our brother is no more,” Manoj said.
Saroj, who joined the Indian Army as a jawan in 2012, had married seven months ago. He had last visited his home in August and later rejoined his duty in September’s first week. For the last time, Saroj contacted his family over mobile phone Tuesday night.
The unfortunate development has completely shattered the family and relatives who had been praying for his safe rescue for the last two days.
Nearly 2,011 people have been rescued, while the calamity that occurred Wednesday affected 22,034 people, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) said in its latest bulletin.
The search for the 22 missing soldiers was continuing with a focus on the downstream areas as the fast-flowing river is likely to have carried them to the lower reaches, officials said.
The flash flood in the Teesta river, triggered by the cloudburst in Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim, caused an accumulation of huge quantity of water, which turned towards Chungthang dam destroying the power infrastructure before moving downstream in spate, flooding towns and villages.
Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone and apprised him of the situation, they said, adding that the Prime Minister assured all necessary assistance to the state.
The SSDMA advised people to stay away from the Teesta as the water level was rising due to incessant rains in the upper reaches. The state tourism department is in contact with the stranded tourists, officials said.
PNN & Agencies
