The twenty brave jawans belonging to Indian Air Force, ITBP and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) personnel, who sacrificed their lives while carrying out rescue and relief operation in the disaster-affected areas to save the stranded people, were given guard of honour at GTC Helipad on Friday.
Weather changed from cloudy to sunny, as the wreath laying and the guard of honour ceremony started. Senior Army, IAF, ITBP and NDRF officers laid wreaths before the bodies of the martyrs in coffins arranged in a row. The soldiers downed their guns during the event. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Union Minister of State for Tourism K Chiranjeevi, Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh laid floral wreaths before the bodies of martyrs and gave salutes to them. Several senior army officers and State officials also paid tribute to the martyrs.
It may be mentioned here that 20 personnel, including five from IAF, nine of NDRF and six of ITBP, were killed on June 18 when the chopper they were on board, crashed in Gaurikund area. The personnel were involved in rescue and relief operation. National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) member VK Duggal, former chief minister Major General (retired) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, Tourism Minister Amrita Rawat, Planning Minister Dinesh Agarwal, Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi and several other senior officials paid the tribute.
Chief Minister Bahuguna said that Army, Air Force, ITBP, NDRF and police personnel were carrying out relief and rescue operations in disaster-hit areas, without caring for their lives and added those Jawans and officers, who sacrificed their lives while serving the people inspired one to serve the humanity. He further said that completing the relief operation will be a true tribute to the brave soldiers and assured that relief operation would be continued.
He said that the State Government has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh each next to the kin of martyrs who laid their lives while carrying out rescue operation in the disaster-hit valley. He also announced that his Government would bear the expense if the children of the martyrs receive their education in Uttarakhand.
Bahuguna also praised the locals for extending relief and support to the pilgrims beyond their capacity in and out of disaster hit areas. He claimed that task of extending support and relief to the disaster affected villages was being carried out at war footing level. Soon after the Guard of Honour ceremony, Shinde left for Delhi in a chopper.
Seeing the coffins, comprising bodies of the martyrs, several people, who gathered at the helipad to have a glimpse of the brave soldiers, turned emotional. Some of them left the venue only after the coffins were loaded to the vehicles to shift them to choppers for being flown to their native places. The locals also gave salute to the brave soldiers, who laid their lives while saving the stranded people in disaster affected areas. Some of them returned home with tears in eyes.