Latest news with #WhiteKnightCorps
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Meerut Agniveer killed in Poonch; joined Army to support family
The quiet village of Pastra, nestled on the edge of Meerut's Jani, is mourning the untimely and heroic death of Lalit Kumar, a 20-year-old Agniveer jawan who was killed in a landmine explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Friday afternoon. Two others were injured in the blast. Lalit Kumar, 20, had joined the Army as an Agniveer jawan a year and half ago (File) Lalit was cremated with military honours on Saturday. Lalit, the son of a daily wage worker, had joined the armed forces under the Agnipath scheme just a year and a half ago, driven by the responsibility of supporting his financially struggling family. Despite being the youngest of four siblings, he had taken it upon himself to educate his brothers and sister, and dreamt of getting them married. Lalit was on his first posting in Poonch when the incident occurred. According to the family, they received a phone call from Lalit's regiment around 2 pm on Friday. They were told that he had been seriously injured in a landmine explosion during a routine patrol. Later, military officials confirmed that Naib Subedar Hariram, Havaldar Gajendra Singh, and Agniveer Lalit Kumar were patrolling near their post when they encountered the deadly landmine. All three were injured, but Lalit later succumbed to his injuries during treatment. According to the family, Lalit had returned to duty only 17 days ago, on July 9, after spending a short 15-day leave with his family. He had left with promises of returning soon on another break to help complete important tasks back home. The family had happily accompanied him to the Meerut railway station. Sister Kajal said Lalit was the first son in the family to secure a government job. After passing his intermediate exams, he had been working toward a B.A. degree. He wanted to complete his education after four years in the Army, Kajal said. Elder brother Nitin added, 'When Lalit said he'd been selected for the Army, the entire household erupted in joy. On the very first night, Lalit phoned every member of the family, and even spoke with his friends in the neighbourhood.' Father Rajpal Singh recalled, 'The very first job application Lalit ever filled out turned out to be the successful one. When my son was selected, it felt as though all our hardships and years of manual labour had finally borne fruit.' In a post on X, White Knight Corps stated: 'General Officer Commanding White Knight Corps and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Agniveer Lalit Kumar, who made the supreme sacrifice, while on an area domination patrol in the general area of Krishna Ghati brigade on 25 July 2025, following a mine blast. We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief.' By:
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Soldier killed in landmine blast in J&K's Poonch
An Army soldier was killed and two others were injured in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday (July 25, 2025). A spokesman of the Army's White Knight Corps said Agniveer Lalit Kumar of 7 JAT Regiment made the supreme sacrifice while on an area domination patrol in general area of Krishna Ghati brigade following a mine blast. 'We stand with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,' the Army said. A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) was among the injured. The injured have been identified as Naib Subedar Hari Ram and Havaldar Gajendra Singh. Officials said the injured were immediately evacuated and airlifted to Army Base Hospital Udhampur for advanced treatment. The incident took place around 12:15 p.m. near Victor Post of the Indian Army at village Salotri in Haveli tehsil when an M16 anti-personnel mine exploded during patrolling.
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Two killed as landslide hits their tent in Reasi
Two men in their 20s were killed when a landslide hit their tent near Shiv temple in Reasi district. The army pressed into service a helicopter to rescue a minor boy from a swollen river in Rajouri's Nowshera, said officials on Wednesday. In Rajouri's Nowshera, the army pressed into service a helicopter to rescue a minor boy from a swollen river. The Nagrota-based White Knight Corps took to X and relayed the information. (ANI) Two men were killed after a landslide hit their tent near a Shiv temple in Badora area of Mahore in Reasi district during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, said officials. The deceased were identified as Rashpal Singh, 26, a resident of Reasi, and Ravi Kumar, 23, a resident of Udhampur district. 'They were fast asleep in a tent near the cave shrine when a landslide from an adjoining hill came crashing down, burying their tent. Both of them died on the spot,' said a police officer. It was raining in the area, he added. Rashpal reportedly worked as a JCB operator. 'They were given the task to prepare a track for an upcoming religious programme at the cave shrine,' said the officer. Their bodies have been retrieved and police have initiated a probe. In Rajouri's Nowshera, the army pressed into service a helicopter to rescue a minor boy from a swollen river. The Nagrota-based White Knight Corps took to X and relayed the information. 'IndianArmy, SDRF, Police & local divers have conducted a coordinated #Rescue operation to save a minor boy trapped amid rising waters of a flooded river in #Rajouri (J&K).Timely action and seamless coordination ensured safe evacuation. We Serve, We Protect,' it wrote. Meanwhile, after a four hour closure in Ramban due to mudslides, the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was partially restored around 2 pm on Wednesday. The Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) was blocked due to flash floods and mudslide at T2 near Magarkote, said a traffic police officer. However, NHAI pressed its men and machinery amid rains and partially restored the affected stretches at Seri and Kela Morh by 2 pm, he added. A fresh batch of 2,837 pilgrims that left Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar base camp this morning in 118 vehicles had crossed Jawahar Tunnel before mudslides blocked Seri and Kela Morh stretches. However, 3,587 pilgrims, who were returning in 126 vehicles after paying obeisance at Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir had to be kept at Amarnath Yatra shelter in Banihal this morning following mudslides on the highway. 'Their down convoy was allowed following partial restoration of the highway,' said the officer. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain and thunder at many places with intense showers and heavy to very heavy rain at isolated to scattered places of Jammu division on Wednesday and Thursday. The IMD has mentioned that Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur, Jammu and Kathua are expected to receive moderate to heavy rains. There is a possibility of intense showers, gusty winds, heavy to very heavy rain at isolated to scattered places of J&K during Wednesday and Thursday that may trigger flash floods at few vulnerable places with landslides, mudslides and shooting stones,' stated IMD's alert. It also stated that there may be rose in water level in rivers, streams, local nullahs (rivulets) and waterlogging in low lying areas The alert advised people to stay away from water bodies and avoid unnecessary travel on hilly roads.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Twin landslides kill Vaishno Devi devotee, Poonch school kid
Twin landslides kill Vaishno Devi devotee JAMMU: Massive landslides struck a route to Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra and a govt school in Poonch on Monday, leaving a pilgrim and a five-year-old student dead in the twin tragedies in J&K's Jammu region. Authorities briefly suspended the Vaishno Devi yatra after the landslide around 8am in Katra's Banganga, the starting point for the pilgrimage where mostly pony-riders gather along the old track and register before taking devotees to the cave shrine. The deceased was identified as Uppana (70) from Chennai. His wife K Radha (66) was among 10 other pilgrims injured and admitted to two Katra hospitals where their condition is stable, officials said. 'The yatra was suspended on the old track till 1pm as a precautionary measure but is progressing smoothly from the new Tarakote Marg route,' an official said. More pilgrims take the old route through Banganga as it is shorter and has other temples on way to the main Vaishno Devi shrine. Army troops joined the rescue. 'In response to the landslide in the general area of Katra, troops of White Knight Corps were swiftly mobilised to assist in relief and rescue operations in collaboration with civil authorities. Immediate support was provided to affected locals, showcasing Army's unwavering commitment to the people,' the Army's White Knight Corps said in a post on X. Hours later, a giant boulder rolled down the hillside and smashed into Govt Primary School in Bainch Kalsan area of Poonch, leaving five-year-old Ehsan Ali dead and five other children injured. Poonch DC Vikas Kundal sanctioned a compensation of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 each for the families of the injured children. J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the deaths and ordered proper medical care for the injured. 'Deeply saddened by the tragic landslide at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in which a devotee lost his life. The news of the death of a five-year-old child due to a rockslide into the school in Poonch is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents to bear this shock. I pray for the speedy recovery of other children,' Sinha posted on X. Omar echoed the grief. 'Chief minister has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic landslide at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine that claimed the life of a devotee. He has expressed heartfelt condolences over the loss of a young student in the landslide that struck a govt school in Bainch Kalsan, Poonch,' Omar's office said in a statement on X.
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Encounter in Kishtwar after security forces intensify search operations in Jammu
An encounter broke out Sunday between the Indian Army and some terrorists in Hadal Gal area of Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar following a search operation in the area. In a post on X, Army's White Knight Corps said: 'OP CHERJI. Based on specific inputs an operation was launched by #IndianArmy in the Hadal Gal area of #Kishtwar Sector. Contact has been established with #terrorists. The #operation is currently in progress'. This comes amid searches in Jammu in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir where 26 people – mostly tourists but also one local pony operator – were shot dead. Searches have especially intensified in the areas south of the Pir Panjal range. Although there are no details yet, sources said there were intelligence reports that '2-3 terrorists' were reportedly hiding in Hadal Gal and that security forces equipped with night vision devices are conducting searches even during night. This comes nearly a month after a topmost commander of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad was killed in a joint operation by security forces and the police in the adjoining Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur district. According to officials, the terrorist, identified as Haider and codenamed Maulvi, was from Pakistan and was part of a four-member group that is suspected to have entered Basantgarh from the adjoining Kathua district. The police and security forces said thy had been tracking the group since last year after a village defense guard (VDG) and an Army soldier were killed in separate encounters. While Haider was killed on June 26, his accomplices managed to escape into the thick forests.
