IAF chopper crash: Odisha bids adieu to JWO Rana Pratap Das with full army honours

By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The mortal stays of Junior Warrant Officer (JWO) Rana Pratap Das, who misplaced his life together with 13 others within the tragic IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu, had been consigned to flames with full army honours at his native village in Angul district on Saturday.

IAF gunner Rana Pratap was with CDS General Bipin Rawat, his spouse and 11 others within the Mi-17V5 helicopter that reportedly crashed close to Coonoor resulting from inclement climate situations on December 8.

The funeral procession started after his mortal stays arrived at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, at about 12 midday. Thousands of individuals participated within the procession and paid tribute to the Odia jawan.

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People who had gathered alongside the highway to his native village raised slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Rana Pratap amar rahe’ (lengthy stay, Rana Pratap) in his reward whereas dignitaries together with Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari, Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick and district officers paid floral tributes as a mark of respect.

The funeral came about at a particular graveyard within the crematorium earmarked for the aim at his native Krushnachandrapur village. The JWO was accorded a gun salute as per laid down protocols after his members of the family, together with father and spouse, paid their final respects. His nephew Atish Das lit the funeral pyre.

Earlier within the day, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and different political leaders paid floral tributes to the immortal soul on the airport. The physique was taken to Krushnachandrapur after the personnel of 120 Battalion paid a guard of honour.

The 34-year-old JWO, who had final visited his household throughout Dussehra, was inducted within the IAF in 2006. He is survived by spouse, one-year-old son and ailing dad and mom. Locals have demanded that the highway between Talabeda and Krushnachandrapur be named after him.