Khandu’s death: Arunachal announces seven-day state mourning
May 5th, 2011 - 2:03 pm ICT by ANI
Itanagar/New Delhi, May 5 (ANI): Arunachal Government has announced a seven-day state mourning beginning today as a mark of respect to Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu who was killed in a chopper crash in Tawang.
The dead body of the late Chief Minister is being taken to Itanagar from Tawang in an Indian Air Force helicopter. The bodies of the remaining four persons killed along with Khandu have been kept in Tawang for autopsy.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today said that two bodies including that of Khandu was taken to Luguthang village by land route and then brought to Tawang.
He further confirmed that the body of the chief minister had been identified.
“It is with profound regret and sadness in my heart that I have to confirm that the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh was killed in an air crash. The body of the Chief Minister and another passenger were brought to Luguthang by the villagers in two teams in the early hours today,” he said.
Chidambaram also said arrangements are being made to bring the bodies of onboard pilots Captain J S Babbar and Captain T S Mamik, and Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak.
“As far as the other three bodies are concerned the army team, which left yesterday from Tela, is reported to have reached the site. They are making arrangements to bring the three bodies presumably first to either Tela or Luguthang and then to Tawang,” he added.
He also informed that the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has been requested to take the necessary consequential steps following the death of Khandu.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are expected to reach Itanagar to pay their last respects to the departed leader.
After four days of search by over 3,000 security forces and choppers, the wreckage was located at Kyela on Wednesday.
Khandu’s last rites would be performed at his native village in Tawang on Friday.
The missing Pawan Hans AS350 B-3 helicopter that took off from Tawang at 9.50 a.m. on Saturday lost communication with the ground after it flew past the Sela Pass along the Chinese border about 20 to 25 minutes later. The helicopter was scheduled to land in Itanagar at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday.
Apart from Khandu, the people on board included crew members Captain J S Babbar and Captain K S Malick, Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lamu, sister of Tawang legislator Tsewang Dhondup. (ANI)
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Tags: air crash, air force helicopter, army team, as350, babbar, chief minister, indian air force, kyela, last respects, last rites, manmohan, manmohan singh, p chidambaram, pawan hans, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, security officer, sonia gandhi, union home minister, yeshi