Kerala officer saved lives during floods

The death of junior warrant officer A. Pradeep, in the helicopter crash in Coonoor that killed 13 including Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat, has cast a pall of gloom in Ponnukara village in Thrissur district of Kerala.

While the entire village grieves over the loss of the 37-year-old Air Force Officer, Pradeep’s father Arakkal Veettil Radhakrishnan is unaware of the tragedy that has struck his family. He is currently on ventilator support in a private hospital following acute respiratory problems.

Only last week Pradeep had visited his native place following his father’s illness and subsequently he went back to Sulur air base to discharge his duties.

When his mother Kumari who was expecting Pradeep’s call on Wednesday morning, didn’t get the phone call, she thought her son might be busy with duty with higher officials. Before going to Sulur he had spoken to her about the trip and that he was going to accompany top defence officials.

But when people started arriving at their house in the afternoon, she knew something bad had happened. Since then she is struggling to come to terms with the devestating news.

Pradeep who was the flight gunner of the illfated helicopter, had been posted in Sulur air base only six months ago.

He leaves behind his wife Sreelakshmi, son Dakshin Dev, 7, and Devapryag, 2 and his dream of settling down with them in Kerala after completing 20 years in service.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paid rich tributes to Pradeep while recollecting his life saving efforts during the floods. He was in the forefront of relief and rescue operations like a true soldier saving lives of people.