Chopper crash: Mortal remains of 4 IAF, 2 army personnel identified
Identification of all 4 IAF personnel JWO Pradeep A, Wg Cdr PS Chauhan, JWO Rana Pratap Das and Sqn Leader Kuldeep Singh and 2 army personnel Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja has been completed.
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New Delhi, Dec 11: The mortal remains of four personnel of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and two soldiers of the Indian Army killed in the helicopter crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu earlier this week have been completed.
Out of the total 14 officers and personnel on board the helicopter, 13 were killed in the horrific Mi-17V5 helicopter crash near Coonoor town on Wednesday. India’s first chief of defence staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Raje Singh Rawat, and the CDS’ defence assistant Brigadier LS Lidder were among the dead.
The others are Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh, Wing Commander Prithvi Singh Chauhan (pilot), Squadron Leader Kuldeep Singh (co-pilot), Junior Warrant Officers Rana Pratap Das and Arakkal Pradeep, Havildar Satpal Rai, Naik Gursewak Singh, Naik Jitendra Kumar, Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja.
The army also said, according to ANI, positive identification of mortal remains of Lance Naik Vivek Kumar and Lance Naik B Sai Teja has been done. The news agency reported citing the IAF air transport plan for them as well as the identified army soldiers will follow.
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"The mortal remains have been released to close family members this morning. Mortal remains will move by air for last rites with appropriate military honour. Wreaths will be laid at the Base Hospital, Delhi Cantonment prior to departure. The process for positive identification of remaining mortal remains is continuing,"ANI cited an army official as saying.
On Friday, Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and his Brigadier Lidder were cremated with full military honours at Delhi's Brar Square Crematorium as their bodies were positively identified.
On the other hand, the sole survivor, Group Captain Varun Singh, is on life support at the IAF Command Hospital in Bengaluru. A top three-star officer is heading the inquiry into the crash. Rawat was on a visit to the prestigious Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington to address the faculty and student officers there.
The IAF chopper crash was one of the worst air accidents involving India’s top military brass.