Last rites of major killed in chopper crash held

Major Taher Hussain Khan, who died in a helicopter crash in Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday, was buried here Friday with full military honours.

The 30-year-old major of the 202 Army Aviation Squadron was killed when Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter he was co-piloting, crashed in Kurshu forest in Bandipora district. The pilot was also killed.

The mortal remains of Khan, which were flown in by a special aircraft late Thursday, were laid to rest at a graveyard at Suraram village in Qutubullahpur mandal near Hyderabad.

The funeral prayers were attended by a large number of local people followed by wreath laying and floral tributes with full military honours, accorded as per military rules.

A contingent of more than 500 soldiers paid homage to the major amidst the plaintive strains of the Last Post by buglers of the AOC Centre and a three gun salute, said a defence statement.

Khan had married in May last year and was hailing from a family serving in the defence forces. His father Sarwar Hussain Khan is a retired air force official.

The major's elder brother is working in the army, while his younger brother is currently posted in the air force station at Begumpet in Hyderabad.