TV
The mortal remains of CISF jawan Manoj Biswal, who lost his life in a cloudburst-triggered landslide in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on August 14, reached his native village Manikamara under Parjang block in Dhenkanal on Sunday.
Sources stated that a wave of grief swept through the village as thousands gathered to pay their final respects.
The coffin draped in the Tricolour arrived at Bhubaneswar airport earlier in the day, where a guard of honour was accorded with full state honours. From there, the body was transported by road to his ancestral village.
Emotional scenes unfolded as relatives, locals, and neighbours lined up to catch a last glimpse of the jawan before his cremation at the local crematorium.
The Tragedy in Kishtwar
The 32-year-old jawan was on duty in Kishtwar’s Chashoti area when a sudden cloudburst struck on August 14, triggering flash floods and massive landslides.
The calamity claimed more than 40 lives and left over 100 injured. Biswal, who was posted with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), was caught in the devastation as torrential rain swept away camps and cut off access routes in the mountainous region.
Cloudbursts, characterised by extremely heavy rainfall within a short period, are a recurring danger in hilly terrains like Jammu and Kashmir. The last event unleashed flash floods and landslides, causing widespread destruction. Kishtwar in particular has been vulnerable, recording multiple such incidents in recent years.
Last Rites Performed
Meanwhile, Biswal’s death has cast a pall of gloom over Manikamara. Residents of the village, along with people from neighbouring areas, assembled in large numbers to pay homage. The funeral was conducted with full honours today at the village cremation ground.
Following the cremation, the jawan's daughter commemorated her father's bravery and stated, "My father was a very strong man. He has left many responsibilities for me to fulfill and I will deliver all of them. I shall never let him down."
