Father of 2 from Rajasthan, who worked as medical assistant in Udhampur, killed in Pak shelling

Moga hailed from Mahradasi village in Jhunjhunu’s Mandawa tehsil. As the news of death reached Jhunjhunu, Meena met Moga’s wife Seema, who was admitted to the district hospital in Nawalgarh, reportedly after hearing the news of the death.

Meena offered his condolences and assured the family of necessary support and assistance from the state and central government. Seema was discharged after treatment, officials said.

Meena told The Indian Express that Moga died in the overnight attacks in Udhampur by Pakistan, and that he was posted at a medical dispensary at the airbase.

Prem Poonia, a local and a former armyman, said Moga was in the IAF’s medical corps, “He had been in the service for 14 years. He was good natured and used to meet everyone whenever he visited the village. Today he has been martyred in service of the nation. We are proud of his sacrifice.” Moga had had a new home constructed and the family had moved in recently.

In the Saturday morning briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Colonel Sofiya Qureshi had said that apart from targeting military bases, Pakistan also targeted medical facilities in Srinagar, Avantipura and Udhampur airbases.

She said over 26 locations in India had been targeted, including air force stations in Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, Bhuj, and Bhatinda, where some personnel and equipment had been harmed.

She said that “in a condemnable and unprofessional act”, Pakistan had targeted medicare centres and schools at the Srinagar, Udhampur and Avantipur airbases, adding Pakistan’s “irresponsible nature of attacking civil infrastructure has been exposed once again.”

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said, “The news of the martyrdom of Shri Surendra Moga ji, a soldier of the Indian Army, a son of Rajasthan from Jhunjhunu, who attained martyrdom while performing his duty of national security at the Udhampur Air Base, is extremely painful.”

“May Lord Shri Ram grant the noble soul a place at his divine feet and provide the grieving family with the strength to bear this immense sorrow,” Sharma said.

Former CM Ashok Gehlot said he pays his “humble tributes to the brave son of Mahradasi village…Medical Assistant Sergeant Surendra Kumar, who was martyred in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir. In this difficult hour, we stand with the family of the martyr. We pray to God to grant them strength. For the supreme sacrifice of martyr Surendra Kumar ji, we will forever remain indebted to him.”

Governor Haribhau Bagade, Congress and BJP state presidents, MPs, etc. too offered their condolences on Moga’s death.