In a poignant and long-awaited conclusion, the body of Sepoy Narayan Singh, who went missing in a 1968 Indian Air Force (IAF) plane crash, has been recovered and returned to his ancestral village in Uttarakhand. This remarkable story spans over five decades and highlights the enduring hope and resilience of his family.
The Tragic Incident
On February 7, 1968, an IAF AN-12 transport plane crashed into the snow-covered mountains near Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, claiming the lives of all 101 people on board, including four crew members. Sepoy Narayan Singh, a member of the Army Medical Corps (AMC), was among those who perished in the tragedy.
The wreckage of the plane was first discovered in 2003 by mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering. However, it wasn't until recent expeditions that the remains of the victims began to be recovered. The latest expedition, named the ChandraBhaga Mountain Expedition, led by the Indian Armys Dogra Scouts, recovered the bodies of four individuals, including Narayan Singh, from the Dhaka glacier at an altitude of nearly 16,000 feet.
Identification and Return
Narayan Singhs body was identified through a paybook found in his pocket, which contained his financial and medical records, as well as the name of his spouse, Basanti Devi. This crucial piece of evidence made further identification, such as DNA profiling, unnecessary. Additionally, a piece of paper with his wife's name, 'Basanti Devi,' was found in his pocket, further confirming his identity.
The body was flown from Himachal Pradesh to Chandigarh, then to Dehradun, and finally to Gauchar airstrip in Chamoli, before being transported to his native village of Kolpuri in Uttarakhand. Here, hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their last respects as the family prepared for the final rites.
A Familys Long Wait
Basanti Devi, Narayan Singhs wife, never gave up hope that her husband would return. Despite remarrying in 1973 to Narayans cousin, Bhawan Singh, she continued to talk about Narayan and held onto the belief that he might still be alive. Basanti Devi passed away in 2011, but her son, Jaiveer Singh, ensured that her wishes were honored by performing the rituals for Narayan as if he were his father.
Jaiveer Singh, the village head of Kolpuri and son of Basanti Devi from her second marriage, expressed his gratitude to the Indian Army for bringing closure to the family. He also questioned why his mother never received any compensation or pension, which might have changed her circumstances and prevented her from remarrying.
Closure and Honors
The recovery of Narayan Singhs body marks a significant moment of closure for his family and the entire village. The Indian Armys relentless efforts in recovering the remains of the victims have been commendable, demonstrating their determination to bring peace to the families affected by the tragedy. Alongside Narayan Singh, the remains of three other soldiersSepoy Malkhan Singh, Craftsman Thomas Charan, and another unidentified soldierwere also recovered and identified.
The Indian Army has been at the forefront of these recovery missions, conducting multiple expeditions since the wreckage was first discovered. The latest recovery is part of an ongoing mission to bring the remaining victims home, providing long-awaited closure to their families.
As the family and village bid their final farewell to Sepoy Narayan Singh, they do so with a sense of peace and gratitude. The return of his body has honored the memory of Basanti Devi and brought closure to a chapter that spanned more than five decades.
