Army jawan’s body found in Siachen after 18 years

KANPUR: In Mainpuri, this family is thanking God for the chance it has to cremate Hawaldar Gaya Prasad after 18 years.

Two days ago body of Hawaldar Gaya Prasad was located buried in a glacier of treacherous Siachen, 18 years after he disappeared and was presumed dead when searches failed to throw up any result.

An aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) made the discovery during a surveillance mission. Body was taken out and flown to the general hospital in Leh, Ladakh where an autopsy was done last Tuesday.

A former colleague Badshah Singh broke the news to Prasad’s brother Shyam and son Sunil on Sunday in Kuraidaya village of Kishmi. “All these years we knew he wouldn’t come back. But deep down, we just wanted to get his body so that we could cremate him properly,” said Shyam.

Their father is now 90 years old. “My only desire was to see his body before I die. My prayers are answered I can go in peace now,” Gajadhar Singh said.

Singh was posted with Prasad when he was killed participat ing in Operation Meghdoot on December 9, 1996. The snow scooter Prasad drove, skidded off the cliff during patrolling When the IAF found the body Singh was the first to get the information from his former comrades. Army confirmed it was Prasad’s body, then posted with the 15 Rajputana Rifles, as identified by the tag bearing his number 2980287-W stitched to the uniform.