Adieu to Gorkha Tshering Lepcha, hundreds gather to bid him goodbye
The final rites of late Gorkha Tshering Lepcha was carried out at Dzongu, Mangan on Monday, July 4 2022. The Gorkha Regiment and the Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army bid him farewell, the regiments presenting themselves as his guard of honour. Lepcha was in 11th Gorkha Rilfes regiment of the Indian Army and was posted in Manipur
Late Lepcha lost his life in a tragic landslide that struck a Railway Construction Camp at Tupul, Noney in Manipur on June 29 2022. As per various media reports, 42 bodies had been so far recovered and among those who lost their lives, 27 of them were Territorial Army personnel and 15 of them were civilians including construction workers, railway employees, and villagers and as many as 20 people continue to be missing, with heavy rains and fresher landslides hindering search operation.
Talking to Sikkim Chronicle, the brother of Late Naik Tshering Lepcha, Pintso Lepcha said, “not just family but whole Dzongu is proud of him.” He further expressed his gratitude to “West Bengal Police, Sikkim Police, SDM Dzongu, Lower Dzongu Zilla Panchayat, Tshering Gyatso Lepcha and to all the well-wishers who prayed for his late brother.”
Addressing a press conference, the area MLA of Dzongu, Pintso Namgyal Lepcha said, “He was an energetic person who always motivated youths and it isn’t just a loss for family but its loss for whole nation. He was already retired but he was so dedicated towards serving nation that he chooses to serve again.”
He added, “Chief Minister of Sikkim has given an assurance that government will provide all the necessities to family of late Naik.”
The Minister for Roads & Bridges Samdup Lepcha who visited the last rites of Late Lepcha, in his condolences message said “I pay homage to all those martyred who lost his life while serving the Nation on Wednesday, 29th July 2022 night in a massive landslide that struck Manipur’s Noney district. Their bravery and supreme sacrifice motivates every Indian to work towards a strong and prosperous country,” he added.
“My heartfelt tribute to all our brave soldiers who lost their lives in a massive landslide that struck Manipur’s Noney district. We will always remain indebted to them and their families for their supreme sacrifice,” he further added.
After the first landslide caused by incessant rains occurred on June 29, the death toll of landslide in Manipur has risen to 42 on Monday while 20 more people are still missing as heavy rain and fresh landslides are still hindering the search operation.
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