TWO IAF PERSONNEL ON MISSING PLANE FROM UTTAR PRADESH, KIN KEEP FINGERS CROSSED
At least two of the 29 personnel who were on board the missing AN 32 plane of the Indian Air Force belong to Uttar Pradesh. The plane disappeared while on its way to Port Blair from Chennai on Friday morning.
Aircraftman Laxmikant Tripathi, 26, hails from Rajruppur in Allahabad and airman Chhedi Singh, 45, belongs to Barezpur village in Ghazipur district, their family members said. Both were posted in Port Blair.
Tripathi’s family is in shock at his Rajruppur residence after the IAF authorities broke the news to them on Friday afternoon. His father Narendra Kumar Tripathi said Laxmikant had come to Allahabad recently after he suffered injuries while playing basketball. He left for Chennai on July 19 by the Ganga-Kaveri Express after recovering from his injuries. On Friday morning, Laxmikant called his father and informed him that he would board the plane to Port Blair some hours later. But around 2pm, the IAF authorities called the family and informed them that the plane carrying 29 people, including Laxmikant, had gone missing. The family and the neighbours are now praying for the safe return of Laxmikant.
Meanwhile, Air Force officials visited Barezpur village in Ghazipur to intimate Chhedi Singh’s family about the plane having disappeared.
“Air Force officials, including Flight Lieutenant AP Verma, visited our place and said Chhedi was onboard the missing plane. He told us that the search operation was in full swing and the plane was likely to be traced soon,” said his cousin Hridayaranayan Singh, an ex-serviceman. Singh said Chhedi, who joined the Air Force 18 years ago, was posted in Port Blair. His relatives are praying for his safe return. “Hope, the plane is found soon and Chhedi returns home,” Hridayanarayan Singh said.