Tragic Loss: Three Agniveers Confirmed Dead After Arunachal Floods

Confirmation of Deaths of Missing Agniveers

New Delhi, Sep 27: The Indian Army has confirmed the deaths of three Agniveers who went missing during the floods in Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley on August 14. Their identities were verified through DNA testing.

As reported by the Army, Agniveers Aditya Kumar, Kundan Kumar, and Vinod Yadav were stationed in the challenging terrain of Dibang when they disappeared following a cloudburst that caused landslides and severe flooding.

Lt General V.M.B. Krishnan, the Eastern Army Commander, along with all Army personnel, paid their respects to the fallen soldiers and extended condolences to their grieving families.

The Army emphasized that the three Agniveers made the ultimate sacrifice while fulfilling their duties and assured their families of unwavering support during this difficult time.

The identification of the soldiers was confirmed through DNA analysis of the remains found days after their disappearance.

The remains were returned to their families, and urns containing their ashes were delivered to their hometowns on Saturday.

Aditya Kumar, hailing from Vaishali in Bihar, was cremated in Arunachal Pradesh with full military honors before his ashes were transported to his ancestral village.

In his hometown, villagers organized a Tiranga Yatra to honor him, with many residents gathering along the route to pay their final tributes.

Vinod Yadav, from Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh, and Kundan Kumar, also from Bihar, were among those missing in the floods that struck Dibang Valley on August 14.

Their families faced a long wait for confirmation until DNA testing verified their identities and the remains were returned, as stated by the Army.

The flash flood impacted the Pasu Pani Army Camp of the 5th Grenadier, destroying two shelters and affecting seven Army personnel, according to officials.

While two soldiers were rescued, five, including the three Agniveers, were reported missing.