
IAF jawan on way back home falls of train, dies in Khagaria
Patna: Indian Air Force (IAF) jawan Kunal Kumar (27), who hailed from Khagaria district, had to join duty on May 11 amid Operation Sindoor, barely four days after he got married on May 7 as his leave got cancelled.
Now as the tension eased, he couldn't wait to meet his new wife and family with stories of Indian valour, and applied for leave, which was granted too.
But destiny had something else in store. The man, for whom sky was the limit, fell down while alighting Guwahati-Jammu Tawi Amarnath Express as it slowed at Gauchhari railway station, and died on the spot on Thursday, barely a few hours before he could reach home at Gauchhari Khatha Nagar Parishad under Gogri police station.
Kunal was travelling back home from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railway station to the Bagdogra camp in West Bengal, where he was stationed. He knew that the Guwahati-Jammu Tawi Amarnath Express did not have a stoppage at Gauchhari railway station, his destination. But an excited Kunal tried to get down from the train when its speed slowed while passing by platform number 1 of Gauchhari railway station in Barauni-Katihar railway section.
Gauchhari railway station GRP in charge, Dhananjay Kumar, said the police were investigating the incident after sending the body for postmortem to the sadar hospital.
"The train does not stop at Gauchhari railway station. The accident took place probably when the train might have slowed and he tried to get down," he told reporters.
According to media reports, his wife Kavita fainted on hearing the news of his death.
His father, Ramvilas Sah, fumbled for words on the loss of his only son, who had many dreams to serve the country.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Training prog for civil defence volunteers kicks off in UT
1 2 3 Chandigarh: Punjab Governor and Union Territory Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria formally inaugurated the Civil Defence Volunteer Training Programme at the Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) on Saturday. The inauguration also marked the beginning of the programme's first batch of volunteers. Deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav welcomed the volunteers with a heartfelt address, assuring full support from the Chandigarh administration. He reflected on the overwhelming public response to the initiative launched post Operation Sindoor, where a modest registration camp at Tagore Theatre on May 10 drew an unexpected crowd of over 5,000 citizens, far surpassing the anticipated 800. This surge of civic enthusiasm led to the selection of 1,600 volunteers from a pool of 7,300 registrants for the first phase of training. These volunteers will be trained in four batches of 400, undergoing a six-day intensive programme that includes sessions at MGSIPA, the fire department, Western Command Army, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). Looking ahead, a valedictory ceremony in mid-July will celebrate the volunteers' commitment, where they will receive certificates, uniforms, and ID cards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] - 2025 Top Trending Search - Local network access Esseps Learn More Undo The city's civil defence structure will be organized into a pyramid command system, ensuring efficient localised disaster management. At the top will be the chief controller, followed by chief wardens, deputy chief wardens, post wardens, sector wardens, and finally the wardens, who will directly oversee the volunteers. Home secretary Mandip Brar emphasized the importance of proactive preparedness, saying, "What truly defines a city is not just how it responds to a disaster, but how prepared it is before the disaster strikes." Kataria urged citizens to embrace the spirit of responsibility, resilience, and readiness, encouraging enthusiastic participation and execution of duties when needed. Volunteers took a solemn pledge, echoing the civil defence motto: "Working for the benefit of all." Among the many inspired citizens is Monika Thakur, a resident of Sector 20, who discovered the programme through Instagram. Driven by a sense of duty, she stepped forward to contribute to the safety and security of her city.


The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Pickle tales
Pickle is nothing less than a tangy and spicy staple of Indian cuisine. Almost every Indian loves to have it with the main course. Fruits and vegetables are fermented with spices, oil and vinegar to preserve them for a longer duration. Raw mango, jackfruit, garlic, lemon, chilli, tomatoes, the options are endless. Only an Indian can better understand the mouth-watering tanginess of pickle. In the olden days, every home kitchen — mostly women — had a secret recipe for pickles. But with time and modernisation, pickles have emerged as a business option and many brands are selling it with advertisements claiming theirs tastes like grandmother's making. These brands are attempting to deliver the nostalgic taste to urban dwellers who lack the resources to make pickle. Every food item is now available in processed and packed form, and the love for pickle remains strong. But no market-based packed pickles can ever match the taste of the home-made variety of yore. Grandmothers or mothers would preserve pickles in ceramic jars. Among the many memories of summer, one staying brightest is of the pickles. My mother used to prepare pickles on her own. It's an art that needs perfection, patience and right balancing of spicy flavours. Grandmothers and mothers prepare this delicacy every summer with all their fondness to be enjoyed the whole year. The mesmerising taste of pickle, no matter which fruit or vegetable it is of, holds special memories in our life. Every summer story is incomplete without discussing the flavours of taste, and pickle is one such part of it. kirtidimple3007@


India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Ground report: Inside Iranian missile-hit Israeli Soroka Hospital
5:16 The report focuses on Indian workers in Baityam, Israel, amid ongoing missile attacks in the Iran-Israel conflict. It describes the destruction of a multi-story building where five people lost their lives. Indian construction workers, residing in Israel for over a year, share their experiences of living under constant threat, with some considering returning to India. They mention frequent visits to shelters and express concerns about their safety and future.