Pithoragarh, 22 October 2026: Army jawan Mahiman Singh Chufal (28), serving with the 12 Kumaon Regiment, succumbed to his injuries late Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Lucknow. He had sustained critical injuries in a road accident in Pithoragarh late on Sunday night. His wedding was scheduled for 8 December, and preparations were underway at his home.
The accident occurred around midnight near Bin Petrol Pump in the Bin area of Pithoragarh. Mahiman Singh Chufal and fellow jawan Rajesh Rawat (27), both of the 12 Kumaon Regiment, were riding a Bullet motorcycle (registration UK 02A 2621) towards the military area when their vehicle collided head-on with another motorcycle (UK 05F 2396) carrying two civilians — Dhiraj Bhatt (20) of Jajardewal and Keshav Sharma (20). All four sustained serious injuries and were initially taken to the district hospital.
Dhiraj Bhatt, a student whose father serves in the ITBP, died en route to a higher centre (reports indicate Bareilly). The two jawans were moved to military medical facilities. Mahiman Singh Chufal’s condition remained critical, and he was referred to Command Hospital, Lucknow, where he died late Wednesday night despite treatment. Rajesh Rawat was also seriously injured; further details on his condition were not immediately available.
Mahiman Singh Chufal was the son of Ramesh Singh Chufal and a resident of Nalai village (originally from Hubli village) in Pithoragarh district. Village head Kishan Singh Karki confirmed the death and stated that the family was preparing for the wedding when the news arrived, plunging the household into mourning. The mortal remains were expected to reach the family home late at night, with the funeral scheduled for Friday.
Local police conducted the initial inquest, and the army coordinated medical evacuation and subsequent arrangements for the jawan. The incident has cast a pall over the area, coming just weeks before the scheduled wedding of the young soldier.
