Body of soldier recovered 56 years after IAF plane crash to be handed over to family in Uttarakhand
New Delhi: Fifty-six years after his death in an Indian Air Force plane crash, the body of soldier Narayan Singh will be returned to his ancestral village in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on Thursday, where it will be received by his extended family.
Narayan Singh was among the four crew members on board the IAF AN-12 transport plane that crashed into snow-covered mountains near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh on February 7, 1968. The aircraft, which was carrying 102 passengers including crew members, crashed almost 16,000 feet above sea level near the Dhaka glacier.
Earlier this week, a joint team of the Indian Army’s Dogra Scouts and representatives from Tiranga Mountain Rescue recovered the remains of four individuals from the crash site. Singh’s body was identified through a paybook found in his pocket.
Singh served as a sepoy in the Army Medical Corps (AMC). His address at Kolpudi village in Chamoli was traced through records, and his extended family was informed about the discovery. His stepson, Jaiveer Singh, shared that Narayan was the lone child of his parents and had died a couple of years after marrying Basanti Devi.
Narayan and Basanti had no children. His family was informed of the crash through a telegram in February 1968, but received no further communication regarding him. A few years later, Narayan’s parents arranged Basanti’s marriage with Bhawan Singh, Narayan’s first cousin. Jaiveer, one of the seven children born from Basanti’s marriage with Bhawan, recalled how his mother, who passed away in 2011, would share memories of Narayan.
“I want to ask the Indian Army why my mother never received any compensation or pension. If she had some money for survival, she might not have remarried,” Jaiveer questioned, adding that he was initially reluctant to receive the body but later accepted it in memory of his late mother.
The remains of two other individuals found at the crash site have also been identified. Sepoy Malkhan Singh from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, was identified through a voucher found in his pocket, while Craftsman Thomas Charan from the Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers was identified through documents. Malkhan Singh’s grandchildren performed the last rites with full military honours. Charan’s mother, Eleama, has been informed of his discovery.
An official stated that while documents recovered from the fourth body have not conclusively identified the individual, his next of kin have been notified. The deceased’s wife Parvati Devi and his father Netram have been informed of the discovery.
The wreckage of the AN-12 plane was first discovered in 2003 by mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering. Since then, the Indian Army’s Dogra Scouts have led several search missions, recovering a total of five bodies by 2019. The latest expedition, named the ChandraBhaga Mountain Expedition, has now recovered four more bodies, bringing renewed hope to the families of the deceased.
“The ChandraBhaga Expedition has once again demonstrated the Indian Army’s relentless determination to bring closure to families, even after half a century,” the officials said, adding that the search for the remains of other passengers continues as the expedition persists in its mission until October 10.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
