Kolhapur: The mortal remains of two Maharashtra soldiers, who died in an accidental blast in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir near the Line of Control on Tuesday, will reach their respective villages in Kolhapur and Satara on Friday morning. Preparations are underway for their final farewell with full honors.
Soldier from Satara: Arjun Rajendra Jadhav
Arjun Rajendra Jadhav (30) hailed from Shahapur village in Satara. He leaves behind a young family and an unfulfilled dream. His son is set to turn one on June 25, a milestone he had hoped to celebrate at home. “His one-month leave had been sanctioned. He was supposed to reach home on June 15,” said Dipak Madane, an ex-serviceman from the village. “He was married only two years ago.”
After studying in his village zilla parishad school, Jadhav completed his education in Yashwantnagar and later in Karad. He joined the Bombay Engineers Group in Pune in 2017, carrying forward his dream of serving the nation. His younger brother followed in his footsteps and is now serving in the Indian Navy, Madane added.
Soldier from Kolhapur: Vikram Balkrishna Chavan
At Gondoli village in Kolhapur district, the loss of 32-year-old Vikram Balkrishna Chavan has left another family shattered. A soldier in the Army’s cavalry unit since 2018, Chavan had spent the last two years posted along the volatile Line of Control. His daughter recently turned two, a birthday he had managed to witness just months ago during a brief visit home.
“Chavan had come back two months ago. His father and brother are farmers. After his mother passed away, the family moved back from Airoli in Mumbai to their ancestral village. Today, seven soldiers from our village serve in the Army. We are proud, but this loss is unbearable,” said village police patil Rajaram Pawar.
Details of the Incident
According to the Army, both soldiers were stationed in the Uri sector, about 100 km north of Srinagar. On Tuesday afternoon, they were critically injured in what the Army described as an accidental blast in the Kamalkote area. Despite being rushed to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, both were declared dead on arrival.
Final Journey Home
Their final journey home is now underway. The mortal remains reached Mumbai on Thursday evening, after which teams will transport them to their respective villages after an overnight stay in Pune.
Tributes Pour In
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid tribute to the soldiers, calling them “sons of Maharashtra” who laid down their lives in the line of duty. “I pay heartfelt tributes and share in the grief of their families,” the CM’s post on X read.
The Army’s Chinar Corps also expressed solidarity. “We stand firmly with the bereaved families in this hour of grief and remain committed to their dignity and well-being,” a statement on X stated.
