Soldier cremated with state honours in Gurdaspur, 3-month-old daughter lights pyre

PUNJAB: The last rites of Army soldier Ranjit Singh Salaria, who was among the five troopers killed after being hit by an avalanche in Jammu and Kashmir, were performed with military honours at his native village in Punjab on Friday.

Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the cremation ground as the funeral pyre of the 26-year-old soldier was lit by his three-month-old daughter, Pari.

The soldier was yet to meet his daughter as he was on duty in Jammu and Kashmir when Pari was born in December last year, Salaria’s father Harbans Singh said.

Subedar Major Ravi Kumar said that Salaria was among the five soldiers, who were buried alive in a checkpost after being hit by an avalanche in Macchal sector of north Kashmir on Tuesday. (AGENCIES)