Dehradun/Chamoli, October 30–31, 2026: Naib Subedar Vishwanath Pratap Singh Garia, a 41-year-old Junior Commissioned Officer of the 11 Garhwal Rifles, died of a cardiac arrest while on duty in the Uri sector of Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday, October 28. His mortal remains were cremated with full military honours in Haridwar on Friday, October 30.
A native of Harmal village in the Dewal development block of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, Garia had served in the Indian Army for approximately 24 years, having enlisted in 2002. He was posted in the Uri sector (including areas such as Lachhipora and FSC Rampur in the Boniyar area).
Initial local reports noted that he was found unresponsive and that medico-legal formalities, including a post-mortem, were conducted; subsequent accounts from Uttarakhand officials and media consistently attributed the death to a heart attack while on operational duty. The Army informed the family on Thursday, and the remains reached the family’s residence in the Tunwala area of Dehradun before the last rites.
Garia belonged to a military family. His father, Dev Singh Garia, and two elder brothers, Narendra Singh and Praveen Singh, had previously served in the Army and retired. He is survived by his mother, Narayani Devi; his wife, Janki Devi; a seven-year-old daughter, Shaanvi; and a four-year-old son, Shreyansh.
Family and village acquaintances described him as sociable and of a simple disposition. Reports noted that he had recently spoken with his family, expressing plans to celebrate Diwali together and to attend a niece’s wedding scheduled for November 21.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed deep grief over the loss. In a message, he stated that he had received the deeply saddening news of the passing of Naib Subedar Vishwanath Pratap Singh Garia of Harmal village, who was serving with the 11 Garhwal Rifles while defending the motherland in the Uri sector. He prayed for the departed soul to find peace at the feet of the Almighty and for the bereaved family to be granted strength to bear the loss. Om Shanti.
The cremation in Haridwar took place with full military honours. An atmosphere of mourning prevailed in Harmal village and the surrounding area in Chamoli, a region with a long tradition of service in the Garhwal Rifles and the broader Indian Army. The Army has indicated that it will extend all possible assistance to the family.
The death underscores the human dimension of prolonged service in sensitive operational areas, even in the absence of direct combat action. A JCO with nearly a quarter-century of service from a multi-generation Army family leaves behind two very young children and a spouse, amplifying the personal and regional impact in Uttarakhand.
