New Delhi, September 27, 2026 — Three Indian Army Agniveers who went missing during flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh’s Dibang Valley on August 14 have been declared dead after their identities were confirmed through DNA testing of recovered mortal remains, the Army announced.
The Agniveers Aditya Kumar of Vaishali, Bihar; Kundan Kumar of Bhojpur, Bihar; and Vinod Yadav of Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh were deployed at the Pasu Pani (also referred to as Paso Pani or Pashupani) Army camp of the 5th Grenadiers in the rugged Dibang region. A cloudburst that afternoon triggered landslides and sudden flash floods that washed away two shelters. Seven personnel were swept away; two were rescued, while five remained unaccounted for.
Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General V.M.B. Krishnan and all ranks of the Army paid tribute to the three soldiers. The Army stated that they made the supreme sacrifice with valour while performing their duties and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families, affirming that it stands with them in their hour of grief.
Mortal remains recovered several days after the incident were subjected to DNA testing, which established the identities of the three Agniveers. The remains were subsequently handed over to their families. Urns containing their ashes reached their respective native villages on Saturday, September 26.
Aditya Kumar, a native of Saidpur Rajouli village in Vaishali district, received full military honours during last rites conducted in Arunachal Pradesh. His ashes were later taken to his ancestral village, where residents organised a Tiranga Yatra to pay final respects. Kundan Kumar, from Janesara village in Bhojpur district and the youngest of three siblings, was about 20 years old; his first posting followed training in Jabalpur. Vinod Yadav, approximately 22 and a resident of Sarai Amilia village in Auraiya, belonged to a family with a tradition of military service. His father is a farmer.
Search and rescue operations in the extremely rugged terrain involved Army teams, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the General Reserve Engineer Force, State and National Disaster Response Forces, Arunachal Pradesh Police, and local volunteers. Difficult geography, fast-flowing rivers, and monsoon weather prolonged the effort. Two unidentified bodies recovered from the Mathu River in late August were among those later examined through forensic procedures.
The Dibang Valley, characterised by steep mountains and remote conditions, hosts Army deployments for security duties along sensitive stretches. The August 14 incident formed part of a broader pattern of monsoon-related disruptions across several states that year.
The Army has assured continued support to the families of the fallen Agniveers.
