14 Gorkha soldiers die in Himachal accident

The soldiers were killed when their patrol vehicle fell into a gorge in Solan district. The soldiers are to be cremated with state honours today.

Solan:Fourteen Gorkha Training Centre (GTC) jawans on Monday died on duty at Solan district of Himachal Pradesh when their patrolling vehicle fell into a gorge.

Their cremation will take place with state honours today.

A feeling of gloom now shrouds the unit of the jawans who were deployed at minus 50 degree Celsius of Siachen Glacier.

The body of Beljung Gurung, one among the dead and part of Gorkha Rifles could not reach the Subathu cantonment on Monday due to bad weather. Gurung's wife is pregnant and expecting the baby by next month. Due to this, she could not even visit the cantonment area to see him one last time.

Beljung's father, Lokraj Gurung is also pensioned out of the Indian Army's Gorkha Rifles. He had done preparations for the cremation but it could not be done due to the delay.

This was then decided to carry out the last rites on Tuesday.

Known as warriors, only 200 soldiers faced 2000 British army soldiers in the year 1814 to liberate Malone Fort from British rule. It is said that while the Britishers used cannons and guns, these Gurkhas managed to win by only using their Khukris.