The Kiss of Death
26 years have passed since the bizarre incident but it is still afresh in the memory. In the blistering heat of May 99, in the middle of Kargil War, Lance Dafedar Hari Ram of Indian Army’s Armoured Corps was forward deployed somewhere in d mighty Thar Desert+
26 years have passed since the bizarre incident but it is still afresh in the memory. In the blistering heat of May 99, in the middle of Kargil War, Lance Dafedar Hari Ram of Indian Army’s Armoured Corps was forward deployed somewhere in d mighty Thar Desert+
Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Hari Ram’s Sentry duty was till 12 o’clock, midnight. Those days, every soldier in the Desert carried a Desi water bottle made of thick cotton cloth – locally known as “मशक”. It kept the water cool. As the Sun set, the desert began to cool, Hari Ram and+
Hari Ram & the rest of the soldiers were joking & chit-chatting almost till midnight. Hari Ram’s “मशक” was hanging on the branch of a Khajri tree.
Laughing in the middle of a typical ‘Fauji Joke’ Hari Ram took the “मशक”, sipped a bit of water +
Laughing in the middle of a typical ‘Fauji Joke’ Hari Ram took the “मशक”, sipped a bit of water +
and hung it back on the tree branch, forgetting to cover its mouth up with the cap (ढक्कन).
There are no easy days in the Desert, owing to the extreme climatic conditions that prevail, specifically the scorching summer heat, when the WATER DRIES up all around the region.+
There are no easy days in the Desert, owing to the extreme climatic conditions that prevail, specifically the scorching summer heat, when the WATER DRIES up all around the region.+
Besides the resilient locals, the Armed forces and CAPFs have adapted themselves to the harsh desert life. In the cool summer nights, a deadly predator distinct to this part of the world and a master of Desert camouflage, whose evolution has taught it to use sidewinding +
-whose evolution has taught it to use sidewinding locomotion to move smoothly across the sand, lurks patiently among the sprawling sand dunes for its prey. Known for the distinct saw-like sound it makes to make its presence felt, locally called ‘बांडी’, one among the Big four+
Big 4 of India’s venomous snakes, the SOCHUREK’S SAW SCALED VIPER is infamous amid the desert dwellers for its angry, irritable and extremely aggressive nature and its deadly poison. A thirsty Viper felt humidity of the dripping “मशक” and innocuously slipped inside & got trapped+
The serpent got trapped in the cold wet “मशक”. On the other hand, Hari Ram was in sound sleep since almost two hours, suddenly, he felt his mouth drying up, he had a rushing urge to have some water. Half asleep with partially closed eyes, he stood up, took the “मशक” and raised+
He raised its opening at 45 degrees, pointing it to his mouth, waiting for water to arrive to quench his ‘desert thirst’.
Instead of water, a very angry fuming Viper flung out from the opening of the angled water bottle(“मशक”), biting Hari Ram’s tongue with his poisonous fangs+
Instead of water, a very angry fuming Viper flung out from the opening of the angled water bottle(“मशक”), biting Hari Ram’s tongue with his poisonous fangs+
, it emptied all the venom in one go. As soon as the Viper bit, Hari Ram was in a sudden state of shock and fell backwards in the sand. Within seconds, the neurotoxins spread in Hari Ram’s nervous system and the feeling of deadly pain as his whole body started to quiver+
-his tongue started bleeding profusely. His gums started to bleed. There was a rapid drop in his blood pressure and he vomited blood several times before taking his last breath.
Bitten in tongue in the middle of the night, Hari Ram couldn’t even shout for help.+
Bitten in tongue in the middle of the night, Hari Ram couldn’t even shout for help.+
Sadly, for Him, it was the ‘Kiss of Death’.
Early in the morning, a fellow soldier saw Hari Ram lying unconscious in his own pool of blood, he was immediately taken to MH, where the doctor declared him brought dead. As I had written in my previous thread +
Early in the morning, a fellow soldier saw Hari Ram lying unconscious in his own pool of blood, he was immediately taken to MH, where the doctor declared him brought dead. As I had written in my previous thread +
that season in the year 1999 saw 33 snake bites among soldiers forward deployed in far-flung areas due to the ongoing Kargil War. The god-sent Army Doctors was able to save 32 of them. Unfortunate soldier Hari Ram was the only one who could not be saved.
A Silent Prayer dedicated to those who didn’t come back sometimes for unknown reasons and for reasons known only to their brothers in arms. #ThoseThatWait #IndianArmy #Army #Snake #Venom #ArmouredCorps #Rajasthan #Thar #Desert
"The Kiss of Death"
Story Brief: Lance Dafedar Amarshibhai Halpara
Snake Photo Courtesy: Dr. Dharmendra Khandal
Soldier image: Representative
Name of Soldier Changed to protect identity.
Story Brief: Lance Dafedar Amarshibhai Halpara
Snake Photo Courtesy: Dr. Dharmendra Khandal
Soldier image: Representative
Name of Soldier Changed to protect identity.
The earlier Thread on the life saviours of Armed Forces
https://twitter.com/mananbhattnavy/status/1586036258404728832?t=ZZZOwKd2T4j8bokN2x1hgQ&s=19
Please read #Haemotoxins in place of #Neurotoxins.
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