Shimla: The search and rescue operation for the remaining two missing soldiers, who were trapped after an avalanche in Namgiya-Dogri area on the Indo-China border in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, was called off on Thursday with the recovery of their bodies.The deceased have been identified as Naik Videsh Chand (32) of Tharava village in Nirmand tehsil of Kullu district and Rifleman Arjun Kumar (25) of Katal Brahmna village of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir. According to officials, bodies of Chand and Kumar were taken to Pooh, from where they would be sent to their native places.Sources said Chand’s wife Ninta Devi fell unconscious on hearing the news. They added that barely hours before the tragedy, Chand had told his mother that he would be coming home soon.Six Army jawans of 7 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles were buried in the avalanche on February 20 when they were repairing a frozen water pipe in a nullah between Dogri and Namgiya near Shipkila Pass. While Havildar Rakesh Kumar (41) of Jhandutta in Bilaspur district was rescued soon after, he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Pooh.Of the five missing jawans, body of Rifleman Rajesh Rishi (25) from Jogon Jagatpur village of Nalagarh subdivision of Solan district was recovered on March 2, that of Rifleman Govind Bahadur Chhetri of Binagudi in West Bengal was found on March 4. The body of Rifleman Nitin Rana (27) of Jasinghpur area of Kangra district was recovered on March 10.Over 300 personnel, including Army jawans, along with ITBP personnel, a Defense Research and Development Organisation team were carrying out the search operation. Specialised rescue dogs, rock drills and chain saws were also being used in to look for the missing soldiers.

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