Kolkata, November 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The mortal remains of the last two Army personnel missing after flash floods swept through their camps in Arunachal Pradesh in August have been recovered, bringing an end to a search operation that continued for more than two months.
The Army’s Eastern Command on Monday paid tribute to Havildar Upendr Yadav and Agniveer Samundra Singh, who were among five soldiers swept away by the floodwaters in Dibang.
“Lt Gen VMB Krishnan, Army Commander, and all ranks express deepest condolences on the demise of Havildar Upendr Yadav and Agniveer Samundra Singh of Spear Corps, who gallantly made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty,” the Eastern Command said in a post on X, extending its support to the bereaved families.
The flash flood, triggered by a cloudburst, struck two camps of the Army’s 5 Grenadiers around 4.30 pm on August 14. Seven soldiers were swept away from the Pasu Pani camp. Two were rescued, while the remaining five went missing.
A large-scale search involving the Army, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other agencies led to the recovery of three bodies in September. DNA analysis identified them as Agniveer Aditya Kumar of Bihar’s Vaishali, Kundan Kumar of Bhojpur in Bihar, and Vinod Yadav of Auraiya in Uttar Pradesh.
The search for Havildar Yadav and Agniveer Singh continued in the difficult terrain of rocky outcrops, hills and forests, with helicopters and local residents also assisting the teams.
The recovery brings an end to the families’ prolonged uncertainty. Havildar Yadav’s relatives had launched social media appeals and poster campaigns seeking help in locating the 38-year-old soldier.
The mortal remains will be handed over to the families after completion of legal formalities. The last rites will be conducted with full military honours.
Havildar Yadav’s family will be entitled to compensation, gratuity and pension. Singh’s next of kin will receive more than Rs 1 crore, including Rs 48 lakh under non-contributory life insurance, Rs 44 lakh as one-time ex-gratia and Rs 8 lakh from the Armed Forces Battle Casualty Fund. The family will also receive his full salary for the remaining four years of his service.
FOLLOW NOW
