Rifleman Nehal Gurung of 5/9 Gorkha Rifles hailed from Khagrohre village in Basholi tehsil of Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir. He came from a military family; his father, grandfather and uncle had also served in the Army. He joined the Indian Army in 2014 at the age of 18 and was posted with 5/9 Gorkha Rifles.
In 2018, his unit was deployed in the Keran Sector of Kupwara district along the Line of Control. On 25 August 2018, Rifleman Nehal Gurung was performing counter-infiltration patrol duty near the Balbir Post when he sustained critical injuries in a mine blast. He was given immediate first aid and evacuated to 92 Base Hospital, Srinagar, but succumbed to his injuries and attained Veergati. He was 22 years old. The Army subsequently paid homage to him at Badamibagh Cantonment with full military honours.