In a solemn ceremony held on Thursday, Lieutenant General RP Kalita, Army Commander of the Eastern Command, along with all ranks, paid tribute to the supreme sacrifice of two brave soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Lt Col VVB Reddy and Maj Jayanth A laid down their lives while carrying out operational flying of the Cheetah Helicopter in Mandala, Arunachal Pradesh, on Thursday. The flight encountered “inconducive weather” and was returning to Missamari when it crashed, according to Defence spokesperson Lt Colonel Mahendra Rawat.
According to reports, the helicopter lost contact with Air Traffic Control (ATC) around 9.15 am and five search parties of the Indian Army, SSB and ITBP were immediately launched. “A Court of Inquiry is ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident,” Rawat said.
The Army Commander also conveyed his condolences to the families of the soldiers and assured them of the Army’s support in their time of grief. “The Indian Army stands firm with the bereaved families,” he said in a tweet.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his heartfelt condolences and paid tribute to the two brave soldiers, in a tweet, he said, “My heartfelt tributes to Lt Col VVB Reddy and Maj Jayanth A who lost their lives in a tragic Helicopter crash in Arunachal Pradesh. We salute their sacrifice, service and devotion in the line of duty. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday condoled the death of Army Major Jayanth A. The deceased soldier hailed from Tamil Nadu’s Theni district. In a statement, the Chief Minister extended his condolences and sympathies to Major Jayanth’s colleagues, family, friends and the people of the country.
He said, “On behalf of the government of Tamil Nadu, I extend my condolences and sympathies to his colleagues, family, friends and the people of the country.”
