Hassan: Soldier D P Sandeep Kumar, who was killed in an avalanche in Jammu and Kashmir about a week ago, was laid to rest with military and state honours at his native Devihalli in the taluk on Wednesday evening.

Sandeep was among 10 soldiers who were killed when an avalanche hit Gurez sector in J&K on January 25. With heavy snowfall and adverse weather conditions, there was a delay in lifting the bodies.

Sandeep’s body, which reached Hassan from Bengaluru at 2.30 am on Wednesday, was kept in the mortuary of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences. Later, it was kept for public viewing at the Deputy Commissioner’s office from 7.30 am to 10 am. Thousands of people, including school and college students, paid floral tributes to the departed soul.

Later, the body was taken in a procession to his house in Devihalli. The national flag covering Sandeep’s body, his belt and cap were officially handed over to his father Puttaraju.

After military honours, the body was handed over to the family to conduct the final rituals. Puttaraju performed the last rites under the guidance of Dayanandapuri swami from Bengaluru. Sandeep was laid to rest amid the chanting of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Sandeep Annanige jai’.

Sandeep’s mother Gangamma collapsed when the last rites were being performed. She was taken into the house, where a doctor treated her.

Hassan MLA H S Prakash, Deputy Commissioner V Chaitra, Assistant Commissioner H L Nagaraju and Tahsildar Shivashankarappa were present.