Relatives of Katra chopper crash victims grieve young lives cruelly interrupted

It was being flown by woman pilot Sunitia Vijayn (43-44), daughter of N Vijan, who is originally from Hyderabad but has been living in South Delhi, also died in the accident. Six pilgrims, including a minor girl and a newly-wed couple, were on board the ill-fated chopper, a police official said.

Other deceased were identified as Sachin Solanki (32), son of Jagdish Solanki and his six-year-old daughter Akishita of Rohini in Delhi; Maheshwer Singh (19), son of Shiv Dev Singh of Poorkhu in Jammu and Aaranjit Singh (52), son of Tirth Singh of Jammu. According to the information received, Sachin was working as a manager in a software development firm in Rohini and his daughter was a student at Maxfort Play School.

The two deceased from the Solanki family had left from Delhi on November 23. The family of seven had gone for a pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine. 

“Two of our family members sat in the chopper, while five of us were waiting for the next ride,” Himanshu Solanki, a bereaved relative told Millennium Post.

As per reports, his wife and son already reached Katra by another chopper, while Sachin and Akishita boarded the ill-fated chopper, which crashed on its way to Katra.

The corpses of all victims have been sent to their respective native places.

Among the deceased were newly-wed couple Arjun Singh (25), employed in the Indian Air Force and his wife Vandana (22) – residents of Jammu. As per reports, the couple got married on the 18th of this month and were headed to the Vaishno Devi shrine. 

“The family living in the outskirts of Jammu city were elated after the wedding of their only son, but a pall of gloom has descended on it after three members of the family were among the seven killed in the helicopter crash at Katra,” a relative said.

Police sources said the Katra-bound chopper of Himalayan Heli Services Pvt Ltd crashed around 12.53 pm moments after take-off.

Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Danish Rana, said: “The chopper was hit by a bird, but the actual reason can be known only after detailed investigations. Technical fault may have led to the accident, but things will become clear only after a thorough investigation.”

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shall hold an inquiry into the Katra chopper crash, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said in Jammu, who had rushed to the accident site soon after the mishap.

He said the Shrine Board has already announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each for the next of kin of deceased persons, in addition to reimbursement of insurance component of Rs 15 lakh each.