Body of Ramnad jawan killed in avalanche reaches Tamil Nadu

Thiruppandi, attached to 54 Rashtriya Rifle and posted at Noushera near Indo-Pak border, died when an avalanche struck his camp at 2.15 am on February 6. Along with Thiruppandi, six other personnel were also there at the camp when the avalanche hit and four of them survived with injuries. Thiruppandi’s body was first shifted to New Delhi. Later, it was brought to Chennai, where a wreath laying ceremony was held at Military Hospital. 

Lt Gen R K Anand, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area, laid a wreath and paid his last respects.  Kancheepuram Collector R Gajalakshmi also placed a wreath on behalf of the State government and senior officers from Dakshin Bharat Area also laid wreaths. After that, Thiruppandi’s body was taken to Madurai. In Madurai airport, Collector K Veera Raghav Rao, SP (InCharge) Sakthivel and army personnel paid respects to the deceased jawan. 

Speaking to DTNext, Rajeshwaran, cousin of Thiruppandi and a jawan posted in a nearby camp, claimed that while they were inside their camps, when the disaster happened. “Alert came in soon after the avalanche attack and we began rescue operation. Despite the best efforts, Thiruppandi breathed his last,” he said. 

Another cousin of Thiruppandi, Dharmar, a Subedhar with the Indian Army, said that Thiruppandi had been serving the nation for 15 years now. He is survived by wife and two children aged 3 and 5. His wife, Kanagavalli, has completed teacher training and hence government must provide her a job, demanded Dharmar. 

Another villager, Pandi, who had accompanied the kin of Thiruppandi, said that at present there are 15 youngsters in their village who are serving in the Army and the family of Thiruppandi who are mostly ex-servicemen inspired many such youngsters to join the Army and serve the nation. From Madurai, the body would be taken to his native town, where the final rites will be held.