Kokernag: Body of second missing army trooper recovered

October 10, 2025 by News Desk

The body of one more trooper who went missing during an anti-militant operation in the upper reaches of Kokernag in South Kashmir have been recovered, officials said on Friday.

“On Friday morning, the body of the second missing soldier was found during an extensive search effort jointly conducted by the Army and police,” an official confirmed to The Kashmiriyat.

The soldiers, belonging to an elite para unit, went missing earlier this week while conducting a search operation in the snowbound Ahlan and Gadole forest areas of Kokernag, Anantnag district, officials told The Kashmiriyat.

The operation was launched amid reports of suspicious movement in the region, but the troops reportedly lost contact with their unit on October 6 due to severe weather and challenging terrain.

Officials said the body of the first missing soldier was recovered on Thursday, with his rucksack and service weapon found intact, indicating that he had been part of an ongoing cordon and search operation.

Preliminary reports suggest that the soldier may have died due to hypothermia or a snowstorm that struck the high-altitude area earlier in the week.

Helicopters and ground teams had been deployed to comb the dense forests, where the harsh weather and difficult terrain had hampered rescue operations for several days.

Security forces have now concluded the search operation, and the bodies are being transported for medico-legal formalities.

The Army has yet to issue an official statement identifying the soldiers or confirming the exact cause of death.