Soldier killed in north Kashmir avalanche cremated

Jammu: Army jawan Koushal Singh, 19, who died in an avalanche along the LoC in north Kashmir, was cremated with full military honours at his native village in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir today. Hundreds of people poured in from different villages of the district to give a tearful adieu to the slain soldier, who belonged to the 33 Rashtriya Rifles.

Singh was one of the five soldiers who had gone missing during the two avalanches on December 13. Two soldiers slipped down a mountain slope in Naugam sector of Kupwara district while three others went missing from a forward post in Kanzalwan sub-sector of Gurez in Bandipora district during heavy snowfall on December 13.

While Singh’s body was traced, rescue operations are underway to find the remaining jawans. At least 22 Army soldiers died due to snow furry in Gurez and Sonmarg areas of north Kashmir in January alone. Singh’s coffin draped in tricolour was brought to his hometown in the presence of senior Army officials, who paid floral tributes to him. A gun salute was also given to the soldier by a contingent of Army.