Last rites of 50-year-old engineer who died in Kerala landslide performed in Kangra

Shimla/Nurpur (HP), July 13 (PTI) The last rites of 50-year-old construction manager, who died in the Kerala landslide on July 7, were performed in his native village, Takoli Ghirtha, in Himachal's Kangra district on Monday. Vikram Rana’s mortal remains were brought to his village a day after his body was recovered from the landslide site in Wayanad on Sunday. Vikram, an engineer by profession, had last spoken to his family members around 11 am, moments before the landslide struck near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi during tunnel road construction. Family members reached Wayanad on July 8 and remained there during the search operation. His body was found during an operation involving around a thousand volunteers and a dog squad. As soon as the body reached the village, a large number of villagers gathered to pay their last respects. Vikram's brother, Pramod, said that the Kerala government and its ministers provided full cooperation during the search operation. He added that Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi also extended all possible assistance to the family, for which they are deeply grateful. Former forest minister and BJP leader Rakesh Pathania also attended the funeral. Expressing his condolences, he remarked that Vikram's death was no less than martyrdom and urged the central government to consider granting 'martyr' status to those who lose their lives in such tragic incidents. Fatehpur SDM Raman Sharma assured that the necessary proposal would be sent to the government to provide all possible assistance to the bereaved family. Rana is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. PTI BPL KSI KSI