Families of the Karnataka men killed in Friday’s helicopter crash in Uttarakhand are struggling to accept their loss. Among the dead is Bengaluru police inspector Arun Salunke, 40, whose father says he cannot believe his son is gone.
A private helicopter operated by Trans Bharat Aviation crashed into a hillside near Chai village in the Joshimath area of Chamoli district, according to the photo caption in the original report.
The victims were Salunke, an inspector with the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru police, and his friends H S Nataraj and Shankar Gowda V B, both from Huliyurduraga in Tumakuru; Prathap Gowda of Sakleshpur in Hassan; and Sudheer K of Bengaluru. Pilot Captain Himanshu Sabharwal also died.
Salunke’s father, Manohar Salunke, who is from Athani, travelled to Dehradun to receive his son’s body. He said that Arun had grown into a responsible man and was deeply committed to his work. He had a strong passion for police service and many dreams, as reported by Deccan Herald.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh called Salunke an outstanding and effective officer and said his death was a major loss to the department. Singh said Salunke “went about his work quietly.” He called the crash unfortunate and said Salunke had gone to offer prayers on the Char Dham Yatra and was returning when it happened.
Sudheer K, an advocate, was a resident of Nagarabhavi and lived with his wife and two children. His father is a retired judge, and the family is originally from Davangere. Colleagues described him as kind-hearted, humble and dedicated.
Praveen Gowda, a senior advocate and Sudheer’s colleague, said Sudheer had built a strong reputation in the legal community through his commitment to his work. He described him as soft-spoken and approachable, and said he kept cordial relations with everyone.
Senior advocate Anoop Kumar told that Sudheer’s humility and warmth stood out as much as his professional ability. He said Sudheer had wide legal knowledge and a distinguished career, and that despite his seniority he treated everyone with warmth and respect.
Suresh H S, brother of Nataraj, said he and Manohar Salunke reached Dehradun from Mumbai in the early hours of Saturday. Authorities gave them accommodation at police quarters, and they are waiting for the bodies to be handed over. They expect to reach Bengaluru on Sunday, Novermber 1, he said, adding that the authorities are responding well and offering support.