Mysuru: Even as Lance Naik Hanumantappa Koppad battles for his life in a Delhi hospital , 29 year old sepoy, P.N. Mahesh, who was one of the 10 Indian Army soldiers hit by an avalanche in the Siachen Glacier, has died.
Mysuru Deputy Commissioner, C Shikha confirmed his death on Tuesday and visited his family in H D Kote to offer her sympathies.
Mahesh was the son of a primary school teacher in H D Kote district. While his father died a while ago, his mother Sarvamangala, was heartbroken on hearing of his death.
“I am deeply affected by my son’s passing. But I am proud that he has died serving his country. Let him be born as a soldier in many more incarnations to come,” she said bravely while bursting into tears.
Sarvamangala revealed she last spoke to her son two months ago. “He told me that he would not be able to talk to me for some time as he was going to a higher altitude. We heard of the news five days ago, but I remained hopeful. I was always proud of my son, and I am happy that he has died as a soldier, but the pain of losing him is killing me,” she added, tears filling her eyes.
The sepoy’s brother P N Manjunath, said Mahesh had last come home in March last year on 20 days leave.
“He told us then that he had been posted to Siachen and showed us pictures and videos of the region. He also told us about the risks involved, ” he recalled, revealing that Mahesh had always dreamed of joining the Indian Army.
“It was when he was purusing his first PUC in the Government Junior college in H D Kote that he heard of the Army selection rally. Since our father had died just then, my mother pledged her gold earrings to send him to the rally. Our family fully supported his dream. He passed both his physical and written tests and was selected in 2005 . He trained at the Madras Regiment centre in the Nilgiris district and served in Assam, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir,” he added proudly.
The grieving family is now waiting to receive the young soldier's body.
