Mortal remains of 11 Gorkha soldiers killed in Manipur landslide arrive in Bagdogra

PRASHANT ACHARYA | EOI | SILIGURI | JULY 2, 2022 : The mortal remains of 10 Gorkha Rifles soldiers from north Bengal and one from Sikkim who were killed in a landslide in Manipur earlier this week were brought to Bagdogra on Saturday and given full military honours at 158 Base Hospital, Bagdogra. 

Nine soldiers from Darjeeling District, one from Jalpaiguri and one from Sikkim lost their lives when a massive landslide washed away their Territorial Army camp at Noney district, Manipur, early on Tuesday. 

Among those claimed by the landslide were Naik Tshering Lepcha from Ruklu Kayem, Upper Dzongu, in Sikkim. The other soldiers whose bodies were brought to Bagdogra were Subedar. Sita Ram Rai of Rangbul (Darjeeling), Havildar. Milan Tamang of Rohini (Kurseong), Naik. Diwakar Thapa of Chongthung (Darjeeling), Lance Naik. Bishal Chettri A coffin being unloaded at Bagdogra airport Mortal remains of 11 Gorkha soldiers killed in Manipur landslide arrive in Bagdogra of Murmah (Mirik) and Rifleman. Shankar Chettri of Banarhaat (Jalpaiguri), Rifleman Benjamin Rai of Teesta Valley, Rifleman. Marcus Gurung of Singmari, Rifleman. Ladup Tamang of Nagari, Lance Naik. Bhupen Rai of Happy Valley and Haviildar. Bedhyan Rai of Gauri Shankar Tea Estate, Kurseong.

Their mortal remains were brought in two shifts by an air force plane. From Bagdogra airport, the bodies were taken to 158 Base Hospital where a large numbers of people, including the parents and family members of the soldiers and neighbors were present to pay homage to the soldiers. 

GOC Trishakti Corps Lieutenant General Tarun Kumar Aich, GOC Bengdubi 111 Sub Area Satindra Singh and other officers laid wreaths on behalf of the Chief of the Army Staff and the GOC-in- C Eastern Command. Officials from Darjeeling District administration, police officers, newly elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration member Anit Thapa, BJP MLAs Neeraj Zimba and B P Bajgain, Darjeeling District Trinamool Congress president Papiya Ghosh, ex-servicemen also paid homage to the soldiers. The soldiers belonged to the Territorial Army's 107th battalion and were stationed near an under construction railway station on the Jiribam - Imphal line. 

The district of Noney, which has been carved out of the Tamenglong district, is an area frequented by militant groups of different hues. So far 25 bodies have been found under the debris of the landslide- 18 Territorial Army soldiers and six civilians - and 18 people have been injured. 

Emergency services personnel on Saturday morning resumed the search for 12 soldiers and 26 civilians still missing.