Last rites of two Karnataka soldiers performed

The last rites of two soldiers from Karnataka, who were buried alive in an avalanche in the Siachen Glacier, were performed at their native villages today with full military and state honours.

The mortal remains of Sepoy Mahesh and Subedar Nagesh were laid to rest at their native villages Pashupati in Mysuru district and Tejuru in Hassan district respectively.

They were buried according to family traditions amid chants of patriotic slogans by hundreds of people who had gathered at both the places.

The bodies were brought to Bengaluru onboard an Indian Air Force aircraft last evening from where they were taken to their native villages by road.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah paid his last respects to Sepoy Mahesh in Mysuru and consoled the family, while Home Minister G Parameshwara and District in-charge Minister A Manju paid homage to Subedar Nagesh in Hassan district.

Of the ten soldiers who lost their lives in the Siachen tragedy, four-- Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, Sepoy Mahesh and Subedar Nagesh--were from Karnataka.

Hanamanthappa, who was the lone survivor when rescued from Siachen, died on February 11 at the Army hospital in New Delhi after almost a week-long battle.

The Karnataka government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh along with land and a job for the kin of the deceased.