The mortal remains of Malkhan Singh, an Indian soldier who tragically lost his life in an air crash 56 years ago in the treacherous terrains of Siachen, were finally returned to his native village of Fatehpur in the Nanauta area of Saharanpur district. Singh, who died at the age of 23, was brought home on Wednesday, bringing closure to his family and community after decades of waiting. His remains were transported from the Sarasawa Air Force Station in a military vehicle, where villagers welcomed him with flowers, slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Shaheed Malkhan Singh Amar Rahe.”
The village gathered to pay their last respects to the fallen soldier, whose remains were kept at his home for “darshan” before his final rites. Later in the evening, Malkhan Singh was laid to rest with full military honours.
The Tragic Incident Malkhan Singh lost his life in a plane crash over Siachen on February 7, 1968. The Siachen Glacier, known as the world’s highest and most inaccessible battlefield, claimed his life when he was only 23 years old. Singh’s younger brother, Ishampal Singh, now 68, recalled the sorrow that gripped the family when the news of the crash reached them. “I was around 12 at the time. I remember the pain and grief of my parents and sister-in-law, who never even got to see his face or perform the last rites.”
For more than half a century, Malkhan Singh’s family held onto hope, unable to accept his death without a body to bury. “We never considered him dead,” said Ishampal, explaining why the family had not performed Malkhan’s “shraddh” ceremony until now. The recovery of his remains, after 56 long years, reopened the family’s wounds, but it also gave them a long-awaited opportunity to say goodbye.
Family’s Struggles Malkhan Singh came from a family of four brothers: Sultan Singh, Chandrapal Singh, and Ishampal Singh. He was married to Sheelawati, with whom he had a son, Ramprasad, who was just a year-and-a-half old at the time of the crash. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, after Malkhan’s death, his widow was married to his brother Chandrapal to ensure her support. Sheelawati passed away 20 years ago, while Malkhan’s son, a tailor by profession, is also no more. Malkhan is survived by his two grandsons, Gautam and Manish Kumar, who work as labourers, and his three granddaughters, Seema, Sonia, and Moni.
The family’s decades-long ordeal did not end with the crash. Chandrapal Singh, who worked as a labourer, spent 25 years fighting with authorities, trying to uncover details of the accident and bring Malkhan’s remains home. However, despite his efforts, the family received only minimal assistance from the Air Force—₹3,000 on two occasions—and never received Malkhan’s personal belongings.
Closure After 56 Years On Wednesday, Malkhan Singh’s remains were flown from Ladakh to the Air Force Station in Sarasawa, where soldiers gave him a final salute. From there, he was transported to his village, where an emotional community gathered to honour their fallen hero. For his younger brother Ishampal and the rest of the family, the pain of losing Malkhan was rekindled, but they finally had the chance to perform the last rites and say their final goodbyes.
As the village of Fatehpur laid Malkhan Singh to rest, his sacrifice and the enduring love of his family were remembered by all, marking the end of a 56-year-long chapter of waiting, grief, and hope.
Sources By Agencies