Jawan’s body found after 18 yrs in Siachen

Srinagar: It has been 18 years since Gaya Prasad, a Sepoy in the Indian Army, was proclaimed dead in December 1996. His team was trapped in a minor avalanche on the Siachen Glacier and he was declared dead after prolonged searches failed to trace him.

However, a week ago, his family at Kudariya village in Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh was informed that the army has found his body.

Gajadhar Singh, his 90-year-old father who is a retired subedar, does not even remember the last time he saw his son or when he last visited the village.

Dejected that Prasad's body had not been found, the family had performed his last rites and accepted their fate.
Prasad was posted at Shaila Post at Siachen Glacier. In December 1996, he was with a team of about 10 jawans on a routine drive on snow scooters when they were caught in a minor avalanche. All the soldiers, except for Prasad, escaped.

After weeks of search and rescue operations, his body couldn't be found.

"A letter from the Indian Army informed us that they have recovered my son's body…after 18 long years. What could I say now? At least I will be able to see my son's face for the last time before dying and perform his last rites," said the soldier's weeping father.

According to the Army's letter, a battalion was on a routine check when they noticed the body.

On further checking, it was confirmed that it was a soldier's body bearing the tag and service number 2980287.
After going through the records, they concluded that it was Gaya Prasad's body.

Gaya Prasad's family and neighbours gather at his house after receiving the letter from the Army.

Meanwhile, the entire village is once again grieving the death of its son.

"He was a very brave man and since childhood, he dreamt of joining the army. It is a happy as well as sad news for all of us," Badri Narayan, a 56-year-old villager and a friend of Gaya Prasad, said.