Akshardham hero passes away

Gujarat Governor Kailashpati Mishra paid rich tributes to Bhandari and said he will be saluted forever. Minister of Home Amit Shah expressed his grief and announced that the state government will posthumously honour the martyr and will give Bhandari’s family Rs 10 lakh for the valour and courage displayed by him.

Twenty-six-year-old Bhandari had sustained four bullet injuries in the operation. His elder brother Uttam Singh Bhandari, who has been looking after the commando for the past 20 months, said: ‘‘Surjan passed away at 4.25. He was in coma and was suffering from kidney problems and high fever for the past few weeks.’’

The young commando from Renou village had spent several months in Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad. He was operated upon four times and a team of renowned neurologists were flown in from Mumbai. However, Bhandari slipped into coma after his second surgery.

He was airlifted to AIIMS in September last year after his brothers made a series of representations to the NSG director, Chief Minister Narendra Modi and even MP Harin Pathak. Bhandari had been admitted in a special ward in the New Emergency Ward since October 2003.

Neurologist Dr Jayesh Sehlat of Civil Hospital said: ‘‘It is sad to hear that he is no more, I operated on him four times and attended to him everyday when he was here. I pray for his soul.’’

Bhandari, who was in the Nuero-ICCU ward of Civil Hospital for more than a year, was often visited by the Akshardham seers, ministers, NSG officers. Children from various schools had decorated his ward with their paintings.

Bhandari had joined Garhwal Rifles in 1997. He was later inducted into the NSG and served a stint in J-K.