Dead soldier’s family await his body

GHAZIABAD - Five days after a soldier died at his post in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, his family here was Tuesday still awaiting his body.

Vijendra Singh, 35, posted at the India-China border, died of cardiac arrest Jan 6. His body was still to reach his home at Begumabad area near Modi Nagar town till Tuesday evening.

Vijendra’s father Inderjeet Singh, mother Phoolwati and brothers Tejveer, Parvinder and Jaiveer were constantly waiting for his body to reach home.

Vijendra’s son Arun, 10, and daughter Tanu, 8, just could not console their mother and grandparents from weeping. A wave of sorrow gripped the entire locality after Vijendra’s death.

Born in the family of a farmer, Vijendra dreamed of serving the country ever since childhood. After basic education from local school, Vijendra joined the army. He was posted with the Jat Regiment in Ladakh around one and half years back.

Army sources said that the helicopter carrying his body was stranded at Chandigarh resulting in the delay in bringing back his body. It was expected to be brought by Wednesday afternoon.