Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet today observed a two-minute silence prayer as a mark of respect for the Jawans, who sacrificed their lives in a clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh.
Before start of the sixteenth meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik this evening, the prayer was observed as a mark of homage to the 20 Jawans including two Odia Jawans – Chandrakant Pradhan and Naib Subedar Nanduram Soren, who were martyred for the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
Earlier today, the mortal remains of two Odia soldiers arrived here by a special aircraft.
Governor Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were the dignitaries present at the airport to pay their last tributes to the jawans.
The Governor and Chief Minister paid floral tributes and placed wreaths on the tricolor-wrapped caskets containing the mortal remains of Jawans as officials and personnel of the three services — Army, Air Force and Navy — were present at the airport.
On Wednesday, the Chief Minister had announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 25 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the next of kin of the martyred Odia Jawans.