1-Year-Old Son Performs Last Rites Of Martyred Army Father In Hapur; DM Breaks Down In Tears

A deeply emotional moment unfolded in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur when the final farewell of martyred Indian Army soldier Rinkel Balyan turned into a scene that left many in tears. A video showing his one-year-old

son performing his father’s last rites has since gone viral on social media, profoundly moving viewers across the country.Rinkel Balyan was among 10 Army personnel who lost their lives after a bulletproof military truck plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Thursday. The tragic accident also left 11 soldiers seriously injured, who are currently undergoing treatment.The soldier’s last rites were conducted with full state honours in his native village Bhatail, which was enveloped in grief following the devastating news. The most heart-breaking moment came when Balyan’s toddler, sitting in his uncle’s lap, lit the funeral pyre—an image that reportedly brought Hapur District Magistrate Abhishek Pandey to tears.Balyan, who joined the Indian Army in 2016, suffered critical injuries when the vehicle he was travelling in fell nearly 200 feet into the gorge. He later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.As his mortal remains arrived in the village, hundreds of locals gathered to pay their last respects. The sombre atmosphere intensified as the family broke down in grief—his mother reportedly collapsed, while his wife Rinki was inconsolable.Coming from a family with a strong military legacy, Balyan’s father is a retired Army personnel, and his brother Rishabh is currently serving in the Indian Army. He is survived by his parents, wife, and young son.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences over the tragedy. “Deeply anguished by the mishap in Doda, in which we have lost our brave army personnel. Their service to the nation will be remembered forever. May the injured recover at the earliest,” he wrote on social media platform X.

He further added that all possible support is being extended to those affected.