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NATION DECEMBER 24, 2021 | The Indian Eye 8

HeliCoPter CrasH

daughters light pyres of fallen

soldiers, who were their ‘fathers, best

friends and heroes’

Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces

personnel were killed in the Mi-17V5 helicopter crash near Coonoor

OuR BuREAu
New Delhi

t was the daughters who lit the
pyres of four defense personnel
Iwho were not only their fathers
but also their best friends and heroes
and had died in the chopper crash.
They thought perhaps it was destined.
The last rites of four out of the
13 personnel who died in the chop-
per crash last week were performed
by their daughters and not their sons
or other male family members as
they were blessed only with daugh-
ters. Coincidentally, all these four
last rites were performed in Delhi.
The last rites of Chief of Defense
Staff General Bipin Rawat and his
wife Madhulika Rawat were per-
formed on Friday by their two daugh-
ters, Kritika and Tarini.

similarly, the last rites of Brig-
adier ls lidder were performed
by his almost 17-year-old The wife and daughters of Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder Singh pay last respects to his mortal remains, at the Brar Square crematorium, in New

daughter aashna at the Brar Delhi on Sunday. Let. Col. Harjinder Singh was one of the 13 who lost his life in an IAF Mi-17V5 chopper crash in Coonoor (ANI)
square crematorium in delhi Lieutenant Colonel Harjinder nel Harjinder Singh and nine other on December 8.
Cantonment on friday. “i am Singh’s daughter Preet Kaur per- Armed Forces personnel including Meanwhile, the lone survivor
formed his last rites by lighting the the Air Force helicopter crew. of the Tamil Nadu chopper crash,
going to be 17. so, he was with pyre on Sunday. However, Harvin- “I could never have imagined Group Captain Varun Singh, suc-
me for 17 years. we will go der Singh’s brother also helped her this,” said Bikal Rai, son of Haval- cumbed to his injuries at the hos-
dar Satpal Rai who lost his life in
in lighting the pyre.
pital on Wednesday. He was under
ahead with happy memories. Thirteen of the 14 people on the Tamil Nadu chopper crash on treatment at Command Hospital in
it is a national loss. my father board the Mi-17V5 helicopter, in- December 8. Bengaluru.
cluding India’s first chief of defense “I am grateful to the govern- He was shifted to the Air Force
was a hero, my best friend. staff, his wife Madhulika Rawat were ment for support. I talked to him for Command hospital last Thursday
maybe it was destined and bet- among those killed after it crashed the last time while he was in the heli- from Wellington’s Military Hospital
on December 8. Those who died in copter. I could never have imagined for further treatment. The Group
ter things will come our way. the crash include Chief of Defense this” said Bikal Rai. 14 people in- Captain’s medical condition was
He was my biggest motivator,” Staff General Rawat, his wife Mad- cluding India’s first chief of defense said to be critical but stable.
staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, his wife
hulika Rawat, his Defense Adviser
“IAF is deeply saddened to
aashna said. Brigadier Lakhbinder Singh Lid- Madhulika Rawat on board the Mi- inform the passing away of brave-
der, Staff Officer Lieutenant Colo- 17V5 helicopter when it was crashed Continued at next page... >>

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