Mumbai: The widow of an Army Major, who was killed in a fire accident in Arunachal Pradesh in 2017, is joining the Indian Army. Gauri Mahadik will undergo training at Officers' Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai where her husband Late Army Major Prasad Mahadik was also trained.

Gauri cleared the Services Selection Board (SSB) in the widow category in her second attempt and is looking forward to join the Officers Training Academy (OTA) of the Indian Army in Chennai this April. There she will undergo 49 weeks of training. After completing a one-year mandatory military training at the academy, the 31-year-old will be inducted into the army as a lieutenant in March 2020.

Sharing her joy of joining armed forces on Facebook, Gauri said, “We became friends on 22nd February 2014, 5 years back and on this same day 5 years now, you gave me your presence…It feels so proud to be called as Wife of Major Prasad Ganesh Mahadik from 7 Bihar.”

“Now in March 2020 I will be called as Lieutenant Gauri Prasad Mahadik wearing the uniform and stars of my husband which are billion times shining than real stars,” she further wrote in her Facebook post.

Recalling her husband’s demise, she said, “10 days after his demise, I was thinking about what should I do now. I decided that I’ve to do something for him and that I'll join the forces and wear his uniform and his stars. I will join the Army next year as a lieutenant after hardcore training at OTA in Chennai.”

Army Major Prasad Ganesh was killed in a tragic fire accident near the India-China border in December 2017.  The officer reportedly died due to burn injuries after a fire broke out in his barracks.

“I am a qualified lawyer and company secretary and was employed job but after the death of my husband I left the job and started preparing for the armed forces. I was determined to join the army as a tribute to my husband and the uniform which I will wear after commissioning will become ours…mine and my husband,” Gauri said.

Gauri married Prasad in 2015 and resides with her in-laws in Mumbai's Virar (West).