A 25-year-old Agniveer from Himachal Pradesh, Naveen Kumar, lost his life in a tragic landslide while on duty in the Drass sector of Kargil on May 20. Officials confirmed that the young soldier was serving with the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles under the Agnipath recruitment scheme.
Naveen Kumar hailed from Halun village in Thural Panchayat of Kangra district. His mortal remains are expected to arrive at his native village on Thursday, where his final rites will be conducted with full military honors.
Vandana Kumari, the Pradhan of Thural Panchayat, confirmed the tragic news and expressed heartfelt condolences on behalf of the entire village. “We were informed by a local soldier. The entire village stands united with the bereaved family,” she said.
Naveen had joined the Army two years ago through an open recruitment rally as part of the Agnipath scheme. Coming from a family with a proud military background, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Rajmal, a Havildar in the 13 JAK Rifles, who passed away four years ago due to cancer.
Family members shared that Naveen had spoken to his mother on the morning of May 19, just a day before the fatal incident. His last visit home was in July 2024.
The news of his death was conveyed to the family by a fellow soldier on Tuesday evening, leaving the entire village in mourning.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Agniveer Naveen Kumar. In official statements, both leaders conveyed their condolences to the grieving family and lauded Naveen’s sacrifice, praying for strength and peace for his loved ones during this difficult time.
