KOLLAM: The news of the death of Lance Naik Sudheesh (30) had brought the entire village of Manroe Thuruth into tears. For the residents, he was their dear, shy but bold, neighbour.
The villagers mourned the death of their beloved son when his body was brought there on Tuesday. Thousands thronged the premises of Sudheesh’s house on the island, the Mulachanthara temple ground, and the Govt LPS Manroe Thuruth where his body was kept for them to pay last respects.
Sudheesh joined the Indian Army soon after he completed his higher secondary schooling. “Sudheesh was a good neighbour who always loved to extend help to those in need. He wanted to join the Army as his elder brother Suresh was already there. He will remain our pride,” R. Aneetta, a former block panchayat member, told DC.
He was the lone soldier from Kerala, who along with nine others got trapped in an avalanche while on duty at Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world.
Islanders were in prayers since the news of the disaster came. Later it was also said there were chances of his survival, which gave hope but in vain.
Sudheesh, who had returned to the military camp five months back, leaves his wife Shalu and their four-month-old daughter Meenakshi. He was preparing to come home and meet his daughter for the first time. Their marriage was three and a half years back.
He is the elder son of Brahmaputran and Pushpavalli. Brother Suresh is in Jammu, and he had a sister, Surekha. He also leaves behind his wife, Shalu, who is a botany student at S.N. College, Kollam. His body was later cremated at his house premises in full army honours.
