Dhenkanal: Mortal remains of the Odia jawan Saroj Das, who was killed in the flash flood in Sikkim were consigned to flames at the cremation ground of his native village Kendudhipa in Kamakshyanagar sub division of Dhenkanal district on Saturday evening with full state honours.
His nephew Rakesh Kumar Das lit the funeral pyre. Family members, friends, relatives, political leaders, officials of the district administration and locals in thousands gathered at the cremation ground to bid a tearful adieu to the slain soldier.
Earlier, the slain soldier’s body on arrival here was taken to the Dhenkanal Collectorate where district administration officials offered their tributes. The fallen soldier’s body was taken in a procession to his village.
Thousands lined the route to pay their last respects to the son of the soil.
Saroj was among the 23 soldiers who went missing in the flash floods in Sikkim. Later, his body was found. His family members identified him through a video conference.
He was married seven months ago. He served as a havildar in the Indian Army. He had been recruited in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) wing of the Indian army in 2012.
