Bettiah: A young soldier from Bihar has died after a landslide while on duty in Ladakh, prompting an outpouring of grief in his home village in West Champaran district.
Manish Kumar, 24, from Nawalpur panchayat in the Yogapatti block of West Champaran, died during the incident on March 13 while serving with the Indian Army.
When his body reached the village three days later, large numbers of residents gathered to pay their final respects.
His father, Mohan Sah, said his son had been posted in Ladakh for about six months. According to the family, the landslide occurred while soldiers were on duty on a high mountain post in the forward area of the region.
Twelve soldiers were present at the time of the incident. Three of them were buried under snow and are currently receiving treatment at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, relatives said.
Family members said Manish fell from the mountain into a ravine during the landslide. Army personnel later recovered him from the site.
His brother, Sumit Kumar, said Manish had joined the Agnipath scheme two years ago with the aim of serving the country. After completing training in Sagar in Madhya Pradesh on October 26, 2023, his first posting was in Darjeeling before he was transferred to Ladakh about six months ago.
The family said they had last spoken to him at about 9.30am on the day of the incident.
Manish, the third of five siblings, had recently visited home during the Chhath Puja festival. He was also expected to return later this year to attend his elder brother’s wedding scheduled for November 2026.
Relatives, including his grandfather Jagdish Sah, said the family was devastated by the loss. Villagers gathered in large numbers as his body was brought home, paying tribute to the soldier who had joined the army at a young age.
