Naib Subedar Vishwanath Pratap Singh Garia, a 41-year-old Junior Commissioned Officer of the 11 Garhwal Rifles, died of a cardiac arrest while performing duty in the Uri sector of Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday, October 28. His last rites were conducted with full military honours in Haridwar on Friday, October 30.
Garia was from Harmal village in the Dewal development block of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. He had joined the Indian Army in 2002 and served for about 24 years. His posting in the Uri sector covered areas including Lachhipora and FSC Rampur in the Boniyar area.
According to the information available from Uttarakhand officials and later media reports, the death was attributed to a heart attack during operational duty. Earlier local reports had said he was found unresponsive and that medico-legal procedures, including a post-mortem, were carried out. The Army informed the family on Thursday, and the mortal remains were brought to the family residence in the Tunwala area of Dehradun before the cremation.
He came from a family with a long military background. His father, Dev Singh Garia, and his two elder brothers, Narendra Singh and Praveen Singh, had also served in the Army and retired from service. He is survived by his mother, Narayani Devi; his wife, Janki Devi; his seven-year-old daughter, Shaanvi; and his four-year-old son, Shreyansh.
Family, village and official response
Family members and villagers described him as a friendly person with a simple nature. Reports said he had recently spoken with his family about celebrating Diwali together and attending a niece’s wedding scheduled for November 21.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the death. In his message, he said he had received the deeply saddening news of the passing of Naib Subedar Vishwanath Pratap Singh Garia of Harmal village, who was serving with the 11 Garhwal Rifles while defending the motherland in the Uri sector. He offered prayers for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family. Om Shanti.
The cremation in Haridwar was marked by full military honours. Mourning was reported in Harmal village and nearby areas of Chamoli, which has a strong tradition of service in the Garhwal Rifles and the Indian Army. The Army has indicated that it will provide all possible assistance to the family.
The incident highlights the strain and uncertainty that can accompany long service in sensitive operational areas, even when there is no direct combat involved. A JCO with nearly a quarter-century in uniform, from a family with multiple Army veterans, leaves behind a wife and two young children, adding to the personal loss felt in Uttarakhand.
