Family was planning for sepoy Mahesh's marriage

When the news of sepoy P N Mahesh’s death reached home, all plans of his family members to find him a perfect match melted like ice.

During his previous visit, Mahesh had expressed his desire to enter wedlock and his family members were hoping to conduct his marriage at least by March.

Mahesh was among 10 soldiers who lost their lives in an avalanche at Siachen on February 3. According to his mother Sarvamangala, Mahesh had in his recent letter said that he would be coming home on a 20-day vacation in March. “As per his wish, we had told him we were looking for a prospective bride. However, fate had something else in store for him,” she said.

People paid their last respects to Mahesh in the city on Tuesday. His mortal remains were kept at the Government guesthouse in Nazarbad. The body was later taken to H D Kote town in the district where Mahesh was brought up.

P N Manjunath, elder brother of Mahesh, could not hold back his tears when asked about his sibling. “He was a good sportsman and was in the football team in his battalion. He had won medals in shooting that earned him a place in the firing squad. He has won many prizes in sports,” said Manjunath. “I am really blessed to have had a brother like him... He was always lively and played cricket with his friends whenever he came home on vacation,” he said.