A sombre mood enveloped Ramdas village in Ajnala tehsil, Amritsar district, on Monday as residents gathered to bid a final, tearful farewell to Naib Subedar Pragat Singh. The soldier tragically died of a heart attack induced by oxygen deprivation while serving in the high-altitude Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on January 4.
A Final, Straining Phone Call Home
In a heartbreaking detail shared by his family, Naib Subedar Pragat Singh managed to call home just a day before his death. During that final conversation, he complained to his mother of severe breathlessness and difficulty speaking. These symptoms are now attributed to a sudden and dangerous drop in oxygen levels at his post in the challenging terrain of Anantnag.
The arrival of his mortal remains at his ancestral home sparked emotional scenes, with hundreds of villagers lining the streets to pay their respects. The grief was palpable as the community united in mourning one of their own.
Funeral with Full Military and State Honours
Naib Subedar Pragat Singh was cremated with full state honours in a ceremony that blended military precision with traditional customs. A guard of honour from the Army performed a formal salute and fired a volley in the air, honouring the ultimate sacrifice of their comrade.
The ceremony was attended by military officials, grieving neighbours, and local politicians, including MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. Following military tradition, the soldier's father, Joginder Singh, lit the funeral pyre. Local leaders emphasised the village's profound pride in Pragat Singh's dedication and promised unwavering support for the bereaved family.
The Gruelling Reality of High-Altitude Postings
This tragic incident casts a stark light on the extreme physical toll faced by soldiers stationed along India's mountainous borders. Serving in sectors like Anantnag involves constant exposure to thin air and rapid drops in oxygen levels.
Such conditions can lead to severe respiratory distress and sudden cardiovascular failure, a daily risk for troops guarding the nation's frontiers. The death of Naib Subedar Pragat Singh is a solemn reminder of these invisible yet deadly challenges inherent in high-altitude deployment.
The community of Ramdas village is now left to mourn a brave son, whose final words home painted a picture of the immense strain endured by soldiers in some of the country's most unforgiving landscapes.
