Sikkim flash flood tragedy: Odia jawan cremated with state honours

Martyred Odia jawan Saroj Kumar Das, who passed away in the tragic flash flood in Sikkim, was cremated with state honours at his native village in Kendudhipa village under Kamakhyanagar block in Dhenkanal district on Saturday evening.

A pal of gloom descended when the mortal remains of Das reached his village in a grand procession from Bhubaneswar. A large crowd with tears in their eyes gathered up to offer their last respects.

Hundreds of people in the area shouted slogans hailing Das. They joined the grand procession from his residence to the village crematorium. Several political leaders, administrative officials and Army officials also paid their last tributes to Saroj.

The jawan was given the guard of honour by Army personnel at his village following which his last rites were performed in the presence of his family members, relatives, villagers and security personnel.

Earlier in the afternoon, Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other dignitaries paid homage to Das when his mortal remains reached Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.

The body of the jawan was carried to the battalion unit office. Subsequently, the mortal remains of the martyred jawan were carried to his native place.

Das 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. Das recently got married in February and has been serving as a Jawan in the Army since 2012.

Das had come to visit his family just two months back.