Wounded army officer to be shifted to Chandigarh

Commanding Officer (CO) Col A Uthaiya, who was injured when terrorists attacked an army camp in Jammu region on Thursday, hails from Kakotuparambu in Kodagu district.

His father Col (retd) Mandetira Ravi, who had served in the Army for 29 years, has been honoured with Vir Chakra. The family is settled in Bangalore.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Colonel M M Ravi, said, “Currently my son is out of danger, the first round of surgery has been completed at the Pathankot Hospital in Punjab, near J&K border. He will be shifted to Chandigarh on Friday for better treatment. As of now, my son is completely out of danger.”

Colonel Ravi explained that Uthaiya had suffered multiple injuries as a bullet scrapped through his chest and his left elbow has also been injured. Col Uthaiya  studied in several schools across the countryHe completed his matriculation in the Army Public School, Delhi. In 1993, he joined the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasala, Pune.

After finishing his studies at the NDA, he went on to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in 1996 and passed out as an officer from IMA in 1997. He joined the Indian Army Armoured Corps and was also an instructor in IMA.

Uthaiya later left for the US and enrolled himself in Armor Officer Career course. After his completion of course in the US, he came back to the Indian army headquarters. During his tenure at the headquarters, Uthaiya was assigned to command the 16 Cavalry unit in Jammu and Kashmir in June, 2013. 

Colonel Uthaiya was living with his wife Kavya and nine-year-old daughter Manavi Uthaiya, a four year old son Madhav, in Samba.