Rewari (Haryana): In a surprising turn of events, the remains of a soldier from Rewari have been discovered 56 years after he was declared dead in a tragic plane crash. The villagers of Gurjar Majri are eagerly awaiting the return of their hero, allowing his family to finally perform the last rites they had long been denied. The soldier’s brother, Kailash Chand, expressed relief that they can now carry out the final rituals according to social customs.
Remains of Four Soldiers Recovered from 1968 Crash Site
According to media reports, a military operation team has recovered four bodies from the site of a plane crash near Rohtang Pass, which occurred 56 years ago. Among the deceased was the late Munshi Ram from Gurjar Majri village. District Collector Abhishek Meena confirmed that the remains found in the snow-covered mountains include those of Munshi Ram, which will soon be brought back to his village.
The Fatal Crash of February 7, 1968
Munshi Ram’s father, Bhajju Ram, mother, Ram Pyari, and wife, Parvati Devi, received the news from the Army about the recovery. The crash, which took place on February 7, 1968, involved an Indian Air Force AN-12 aircraft carrying 102 passengers from Chandigarh. The aircraft went down due to poor weather conditions, and for decades, the wreckage and remains of the passengers were lost in the icy terrain. In 2003, climbers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering located the wreckage.
Dogra Scouts Lead Recovery Efforts
Following the discovery, the Army, particularly the Dogra Scouts, has conducted several operations. Search missions in 2005, 2006, 2013, and 2019 saw the Dogra Scouts at the forefront. By 2019, only five bodies had been recovered. The Chandrabhaga operation has underscored the Army’s unwavering commitment to providing closure to the families of its soldiers. The Dogra Scouts, renowned for their expertise in high-altitude missions, played a pivotal role in this operation.
This long-awaited discovery finally gives the family a chance to lay their beloved soldier to rest, ending years of uncertainty and pain.
