Manohar Parrikar meets family of Lt. Col. Chauhan who lost life in mishap

KANPUR: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday visited the family of Lt Col. Pankaj Chauhan at his Viman nagar residence in Chakeri area of the City.
Chauhan of 218 Medium Regiment was stationed at Likabali in West Siang district and had died in a road accident on National Highway-37 near Laimekuri, Arunachal Pradesh on June 13. As per the family sources, Lt Col.Chauhan along with four other personnel, who were a part of operation `Rhino' in Likabali area on a Gypsy vehicle, when the mishap had occurred.
Accompanied by local BJP party men, local representatives and other army and Indian Air Force (IAF) officers, the defence minister met with the wife Rimjhim, children including son Vikram (9) and daughter Parina (3) and other family members of the personnel and shared their grief, besides paying tribute to the brave personnel.
Defence Minister while talking to the newsmen stated that he would support the family in whatever way he would be able to. He said that they have demanded that someone from their family should be given a chance to serve the army and the nation. He also said that rest issues would be addressed to help the grieving family.
Lt Col. Pankaj Chauhan, was cremated with full military honours at Siddhnath Ghat in Jajmau area of Chakeri. Born on Mar 24 1975, Lt Col. Pankaj Chauhan was commissioned in the Regt of Arty on 03 Mar 2001. The Officer was a dedicated soldier, whose demise on 13 Jun 2016 extinguished a brilliant and promising career.
Lt Col. met the tragic end when the Army Gypsy in which he was travelling and a Tata pick up van coming from opposite direction collided head-on. The army jeep was proceeding to Sigar (Mebo) Military station. The critically injured Col. was rushed to a private-run hospital at Ruksin, where the doctors declared him dead.