United Nations, Sep 13 (IANS) Indian peacekeeper, Lt Col Gaurav Solanki, died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while trying to rescue a colleague in Lake Kivu, according to the UN mission there.

The UN Stabilisation in the DRC, which is know by its French initials as MONUSCO, held a memorial service in North Kivu on Friday for the peacekeeper who died on Sunday.

Secretary General Antonio Guterres's Deputy Special Representative Francois Grignon and Lt Gen Elias Rodrigues Martins Filho, the peacekeeping Force Commander, praised Solanki's dedication to peace and conveyed Guterres's condolence to his family, MONUSCO said.

There are 2,613 Indian military personnel serving with MONUSCO.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis)

--IANS al/vd