Manali: The tragic passing of 19-year-old Veer Soren, grandson of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, has cast a heavy shadow of grief over his family and his hometown in Jharkhand. Veer, the eldest son of Babulal Soren, was on a holiday with friends in the picturesque hill station of Manali when he suddenly fell ill and passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
According to reports from the Kullu Police, Veer and his group had arrived in Manali on February 22, staying at a homestay in the Simsa area. The trip, which was intended to be a leisure break, took a turn following a day of sightseeing at high-altitude spots including Solang Valley, Sethan, and Hamta Pass. While his friends went out again the following morning, Veer chose to stay back at the homestay to rest.
The situation became critical around midday on Tuesday. When his friends returned at approximately 12:30 PM, Veer complained of an intense headache. Hoping it was a minor ailment, they provided him with medication, and he went back to sleep. However, two hours later, a loud thud from his room alerted his friends, who rushed in to find him unconscious on the floor after falling from his bed.
As they hurried him toward the Civil Hospital in Manali, witnesses noted froth appearing at his mouth—a distressing sign of a severe medical crisis. Despite the medical team at the hospital performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for a significant duration, the 19-year-old could not be revived and was declared brought dead.
Preliminary medical assessments suggest that high-altitude sickness, specifically hypoxemia (low oxygen levels in the blood), may have been the underlying cause. Such conditions can strike even the young and healthy when the body fails to acclimate to the thinning air of the Himalayas. Manali DSP KD Sharma confirmed that no external injuries or signs of foul play were found. While a post-mortem was initially discussed, the family reportedly declined the procedure, and the body has since been handed over to them to be taken back to Jharkhand.
The news has prompted a wave of condolences from across the political spectrum. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed his profound shock, praying for strength for the bereaved family. Champai Soren, visibly devastated, took to social media to share the news of his “untimely” loss, stating that the family is shattered by the departure of their beloved grandson.
