Galwan convoy accident claims life of decorated Army officer from Kangra

A pall of grief has descended upon the Kangra valley following the untimely death of Lt Col Bhanu Pratap Singh Mankotia, a fourth-generation soldier and one of the Indian Army’s most decorated young officers. The 33-year-old, along with Lance Dafedar Daljeet Singh of the Sindh Horse Armoured Regiment, lost his life when a boulder struck their SUV during a military convoy movement near Charbagh in the Galwan region of eastern Ladakh.

Hailing from Tiara village in Kangra, Lt Col Mankotia was widely regarded as a rising star within the Army. A recipient of both the Sword of Honour and Gold Medal at the Indian Military Academy in 2012, his military career was marked by brilliance, discipline and unwavering dedication. He went on to top the prestigious Staff College course at Wellington, an achievement that underscored his professional excellence.

He is survived by his wife, the daughter of Lt Gen Bakshi, and their two-year-old son.

Former Himachal minister Maj Vijay Singh Mankotia called the loss “unbelievable and crushing”, saying, “We, people in Tiara, took pride in this young officer’s achievements and are stunned and shell-shocked by this unbelievable end. Kangra has lost a gem, a son of the soil discharging outstanding sense of duty while deployed in an operational area.”

Reflecting on the devastating loss, Col K.K.S. Dadhwal said, “On the line of duty, this young officer was unfortunately lost in the most hostile terrain close to Galwan that witnessed skirmishes recently. The leadership, intellect and integrity of this young officer were unmatched.”