Bhubaneswar: An Odia airman was among the 13 people killed, including India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat and his wife Madhulika, in the IAF Mi-17V5 chopper crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday.
The Odia airman was identified as Rana Pratap Das, a native of Talcher in Angul district.
Hailing from Krushnachandrapur village in Talcher, Das, who was a Junior Warrant Officer (JWO), had been in the IAF for the last 12 years. He was stationed in New Delhi, where he lived with his wife and son.
His parents live in his native village. The mortal remains of Das will reach his village in Talcher on Thursday night, family sources said.
A pall of gloom has descended the village following news of his death.
His brother-in-law Sankalp Das confirmed his death on Twitter, according to media reports. “My brother-in-law Rana Pratap Das from Talcher, Odisha, lost his life in the tragic helicopter crash,” tweeted Sankalp, a report said.
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