Someswara Rao Shows Resilience After Losing Leg at Landmine Explosion at Uri, to Compete at Para Asian Games

Someswara Rao, an Indian Army personnel and survivor of a landmine explosion in Uri to participate in a long-jump competition at the Para Asian Games later this year.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: July 27, 2023

When a landmine exploded in the Uri region of J&K in 2013, Someswara Rao was still reeling from the anguish of losing his left leg below the knee. The young soldier was still receiving therapy when he had the thought to end it all one day. He hopped to the restroom while holding a sword. But a call to a friend saved his life. Rao started competing in track and field after being inspired by Lt Gaurav Colonel Dutta, 54. He was acquainted with Dutta at Pune's Artificial Limb Centre. He started off initially as a blade runner. Later this year in the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, he will represent India in the long-jump competition.

"I am sitting here and speaking to you today because my mother called me on that particular day. I started crying when I heard my mother's voice, and then I simply passed out. I was in and out of the ICU for the following ten days, claimed Rao, 33. The amputation brought up painful memories, despite a commitment to himself that he would never entertain such ideas again. However, a chance encounter with an Army para triathlete named Lt. Colonel. Gaurav Dutta offered him a new lease on life.

Lt. Col. Dutta played a crucial role in establishing the Army's Paralympics Node (APN) in 2017. Rao, along with 8 trainees from APN, will compete for India in the October 22–28 Para Asian Games. The jumpers will include Rao, Solai Raj, and Unni Renu, while Ajay Kumar and Jasbir Singh will compete in the 400-meter race. Virender, Hokato Sema, and Soman Rana will compete in the shot-put competition. On Tuesday, the tryouts took place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

When Rao enlisted in the Indian Army's 11 Madras Regiment in 2011, he eagerly anticipated being assigned to the Uri zone. He was enlisted into the Ghatak Platoon, a renowned regiment composed of the best troops in the nation. Rao recalled the event that altered the course of his life: "A landmine had exploded in a ditch in Uri the previous night. Since it was completely dark when we arrived for the inspection, we used light flares. That evening, nothing occurred.

But the following morning, I stepped on a landmine as we were returning to the trench."That's a route we had taken multiple times, but that day it wasn't the same," said Rao, a sprinter who has won numerous international Grand Prix gold. Ajay Kumar, a 33-year-old soldier of the 12 Dogra Regiment, had a similar tale. Ajay, another member of Ghatak Platoon, also lost a limb while conducting reconnaissance in the Uri region when a landmine exploded.

He received an administrative job following the 2017 incident, something he never relished. "I felt uncomfortable. I quickly called Dutta Sahab and begged him to let me join sports since I couldn't do this. We now get a second chance at life thanks to sports. I doubt we would have this content if it weren't for sports, Ajay said. The Delhi Cantt Center boasts of Army para-athletes and coaches. Even though Lt. Colonel. Dutta's intervention altered the lives of countless children, he is still not content because there is still much to be done in India's parasports industry.

"I am aware of the struggles these men face. You were a warrior just the day before, but the next day you felt unfit enough to work in the fields. Lt. Colonel. Dutta, who overcame injuries from landmines in 2001, mentors them and talks to them about sports and how important it is to even participate in competitions. Shot putter Hokato Sema claimed that "Dutta Sahab" was also responsible for his introduction to athletics. The soldier from the 9 Assam Regiment chose to participate in an operation along the LoC in 2002 while still a teenager.

"My officer asked me, "Why do you want to go?' as I raised my hand. You're young, right? It was also very unsafe, according to a close acquaintance of mine from Nagaland. We both desired to someday join the para commandos, according to the 39-year-old Hokato, who, like the other competitors, qualified for the Asiad based on rankings and tryouts. After the J&K expedition, Hokato and his companion both announced that they will sign up for the special forces. "Infiltrators were firing back at us. A landmine was stepped on by me as I was rushing through the snow.

My aspirations to join the para commandos were dashed. After a lengthy delay, he finally declared, "My friend is a commando today." Hokato worked in administration for the Army for the subsequent 14 years without ever considering sports. The Nagaland resident submitted a request for voluntary retirement in 2016 and left for home at the time. "Then Dutta Sahab called and advised me to participate in sports. The 2017 China Grand Prix bronze medalist admitted, "Back then, I didn't even know para-sports existed.