Army officer in coma for 8-years after gunshot wounds passes away

New Delhi, December 26: Lt. Colonel Karanbir Singh Natt, decorated with the Sena Medal (SM), passed away on December 24 at a Military Hospital in Jalandhar after an arduous eight-year-long struggle. Lt. Col. KBS Natt fell into a coma for eight years after sustaining a gunshot to the face during an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara in 2015.

He served as the second-in-command (2IC) of the 160 Infantry Battalion TA (Jammu and Kashmir Rifles). The operation, conducted on November 22, 2015, in Haji Naka village, aimed to apprehend terrorists based on intelligence.

Lt. Col. KBS Natt, SM, brought nearly 20 years of military experience to his service. After completing his training at the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai in 1997, he was commissioned in the 19th Battalion of the Brigade of Guards through the Short Service Commission (SSC) entry. His passion for military service led him to transition to the Territorial Army, where he served with the 160 Inf Bat TA (JaKRif) following more than a decade in the regular army.

Series of Encounters in Kupwara, November 2015

In November 2015, the Kupwara region in Jammu and Kashmir became the center stage for a sequence of intense encounters. Colonel Santosh Mahadik, leading the 41 Rashtriya Rifles, initiated a significant anti-terror operation in the Kalaroos vicinity of Kupwara on November 17. Commanding from the frontlines, he engaged in a fierce gunfight. Despite his valiant efforts, Colonel Mahadik suffered a severe chest injury due to gunfire and succumbed to the wounds sustained during the operation.

During a subsequent encounter, Lt. Colonel Natt found himself in the line of fire as terrorists were cornered within a hut. In a courageous attempt to neutralize the threat, he bravely faced a burst of fire, sustaining a gunshot wound to the face. Despite grave injuries, Lt. Colonel Natt displayed remarkable heroism, ensuring the safety of three of his fellow soldiers amidst the chaos of the operation.

The heart-wrenching battle

In 2018, Colonel Anil Alagh (Retired), the commanding officer of Lt. Colonel Natt's former regiment, penned a poignant post, unveiling the arduous journey Lt. Col. Natt and his family endured. Lt. Col. Natt, critically injured in a counter-terror operation, was immediately airlifted to Srinagar and subsequently transported to the Army's Research and Referral (R&R) hospital in Delhi. On arrival, he lay in a vegetative state, a condition where one remains conscious but lacks awareness.

The start of a prolonged struggle

The infantry officer's plight and the challenges faced by his family commenced from that day onward. Gradually slipping into a coma owing to the severity of his injuries, Lt. Col. Natt's situation became increasingly critical. Colonel Alagh, at the behest of Lt. Col. Natt's wife, Navreet, shared insights into their agonizing ordeal.

A glimpse into the family's anguish

Expressing his profound sorrow, Colonel Alagh articulated the heartbreaking experiences endured by Lt. Col. Natt's family. He recounted moments where Lt. Col. Natt's children, Guneet and Ashmeet, yearned for their father's presence. Ashmeet's innocent inquiries about her father's return, his attendance at her school functions, and picking her up from school brought forth the poignant reality of their situation.

Despite the circumstances, the family clung to hope and togetherness. Even in his incapacitated state, the family cherished every moment with Lt. Col. Natt, embracing the idea of his perpetual presence among them, as recounted by his wife. Colonel Alagh shared these poignant glimpses, reflecting the enduring struggle of a valiant soldier's family amidst adversity.

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