Sikkim flash flood: Mortal remains of Odia Jawan reach Bhubaneswar; Governor, CM pay tribute

The mortal remains of Odia Jawan Saroj Kumar Das, who was martyred in the tragic flash flood in Sikkim, reached Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar on Saturday afternoon.

Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and other dignitaries paid homage to Das at the airport. The martyred jawan was also presented a guard of honour in presence of Army officials.

The body of the jawan will be taken to the battalion unit office. Subsequently, the mortal remains of the martyred jawan will be taken to his native place at Kendudhipa village under Kamakhyanagar block in Dhenkanal district in a grand procession.

The last rites will be performed at the village crematorium,

Saroj had gone missing along with 22 other Army personnel following a flash flood in the Teesta River of Lachen Valley due to a sudden cloud burst over Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim. He was part of the Army team that reportedly went missing in the disaster. Saroj recently got married in February and has been serving as a Jawan in the army since 2012.

A pall of gloom has descended on his village after family members identified his body through a video call. Das had come to visit his family just two months back and his death has come as a shock to his family.