Masses gather for final journey of Agniveer Samudra Singh, killed in Arunachal Pradesh landslide

Agniveer Samudra Singh Gurjar, a resident of Kesarpur village in Rajasthan's Alwar district who had gone missing in a natural disaster in Arunachal Pradesh, was given a final farewell amidst an atmosphere of deep grief in the village after his mortal remains were confirmed.

According to reports, a cloudburst and heavy rainfall in the Pashupani area of Arunachal Pradesh's Dibang Valley led to devastating floods and landslides, in which several personnel, including Samudra Singh Gurjar, went missing.

Samudra Singh had been missing since this natural calamity occurred on 14 August 2026. A total of five personnel, including Havildar Upendra Yadav of the 5 Grenadiers and Agniveer Samudra Singh Gurjar of the Indian Army, went missing in this accident. The Army conducted continuous rescue and search operations for a long period, after which the mortal remains of the personnel were recovered.

Due to the intensity of the landslide and floods, the condition of the bodies was such that initial identification proved extremely difficult. Considering this situation, the Army conducted DNA tests. Once the DNA report matched and Samudra Singh's identity was confirmed, the Army officially declared him a martyr. Only after this lengthy process did his family members get the opportunity to bid a final farewell to their son.

In honour of Samudra Singh, a grand Tiranga Yatra was organised by Army personnel and villagers. Thousands of villagers and youths joined this final procession. A large number of young men participated in the yatra on bikes. Patriotic songs played on DJs during the procession, and the entire area echoed with slogans of 'Samudra Singh Amar Raho'.

A unique scene was witnessed during the final journey, where villagers climbed onto a JCB machine to shower flower petals. People bid an emotional farewell to the brave son of their village by showering flowers. In the presence of thousands, the atmosphere was one of extreme grief and pride.

Apart from Samudra Singh, four other personnel also made the supreme sacrifice in this natural disaster. This includes Havildar Upendra Yadav, a resident of Azamgarh district in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, three Agniveer personnel—Kundan Yadav from Bhojpur, Bihar; Vinod Kumar Yadav from Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh; and Aditya Kumar from Vaishali, Bihar—also attained martyrdom. Thus, a total of five Army personnel lost their lives in this devastating disaster in Dibang Valley.

As the personnel remained missing for a long time following the disaster in the remote hilly region, there was great anxiety among the Army and their families. However, identity was ensured after continuous searching and scientific investigation.

Amidst the presence of such a large number of people and the honouring of the martyr, heavy resentment was observed among the villagers regarding one matter. Villagers expressed displeasure over the absence of high-ranking police and administrative officials during the last rites and the procession. People registered their protest as officials failed to reach the spot. While the village felt pride in the martyrdom of its brave soldier, the indifference of the administration became a subject of discussion.