Bagdogra: Wreaths were laid for the 16 soldiers who lost their lives in a road accident at Zema in Sikkim at a function organized at the Bagdogra airport. The mortal remains of the soldiers were sent to their homes in different parts of the country with full military honors. Sikkim Chief Minister PS Tamang and Lt Gen VPS Kaushik also paid tribute to the soldiers at Bagdogra Airport.
After the accident on the morning of 23rd December, all the dead bodies were recovered and brought to Chatan by noon. By the morning of 24th December, the bodies were brought to the STNM Hospital, Gangtok for postmortem. After the postmortem process was completed, the mortal remains were brought from Gangtok to Bagdogra airport by three helicopters of the Indian Air Force.
After paying homage, 15 mortal remains were sent by special Air Force aircraft to various airports in the country. From there the bodies were to be taken to their native towns or villages. The mortal remains of Naib Subedar Chandan Kumar Mishra, a resident of Khagaria, Bihar, is being taken by road.
Apparently, a major road accident took place in Sikkim on Friday. 16 army personnel were martyred in the painful road accident. According to an army official, the incident took place in Zema, North Sikkim. The accident vehicle was part of a convoy of three vehicles, which had moved from Chatan towards Thangu in the morning. According to PRO Defense Lt Col Mahendra Rawat, the vehicle skidded down a steep slope at a sharp turn on the way to Zema.