Tearful adieu to Khandu at Itanagar

Itanagar: Many sobbed as the body of Arunachal chief minister Dorjee Khandu was brought to Itanagar on Thursday from Lubuthang, a remote village in West Kameng district where a Pawan Hans chopper carrying him and four others crashed six days ago.
The crash took place on April 30 shortly after the helicopter left Tawang for Itanagar. Villagers from Keyla spotted the bodies of the victims and the wreckage of the chopper on Wednesday.
People lined the road from Raj Bhavan helipad to the CM's bungalow to have a last glimpse of the leader whom they fondly called Laughing Buddha. Braving the scorching heat, they waited for hours since morning. They broke down when Khandus's body was taken to his house in a glass cascade.
ITBP presonnel presented a guard of honour when two IAF choppers landed at the helipad with Khandu's body accompanied by his second wife, Rinchin Drema, eldest son Pema, brother Goleng Khandu and Lok Sabha member Takam Sanjoy.
Governor Gen. (retired) J J Singh and Union ministers B K Handique, Salman Khursheed, Mukul Wasnik, V Narayansamy and Vincent Pala laid wreaths on the cascade. As priests from different religions chanted hymns, mourners offered their tributes to Khandu inside the waiting room of his house where his body was kept.
06/05/11 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General May 2011, Safety May 2011