Two UP bravehearts killed in Budgam chopper crash

Uttar Pradesh lost two of its bravehearts on Wednesday after an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 transport chopper crashed in J&K's Budgam district, officials said.

Corporal Deepak Pandey from Lucknow's Mangla Vihar area and Corporal Pankaj Kumar Singh from Mathura died in the crash. The helicopter crashed in a field near Garend Kalaan village at 10.05 a.m.

The report of Pandey's death was communicated to his father Ram Prakash Pandey by the Srinagar airbase, a close relative said. Pandey had joined the IAF five years back.

Senior officials of the UP government and Minister of Industrial Development Satish Mahana visited the deceased's house. Consoling the family, Mahana said the state government was with them in this hour of grief.

Singh's family members in Mathura's Sarang Vihar area were informed about of the tragedy by Wing Commander Praveen Kumar, a relative said.

His father Nauhbat Singh, a retired army personnel, was told that his son was killed in the line of duty after his chopper crashed.

Singh had joined the IAF in 2012. He got married to Medha Chowdhary from Bulandshahr in 2015 and the couple have a one-and-a-half-year-old son. He had returned to duty after a 15-day leave on February 2.

The family members said Singh had spoken to his parents and wife on Tuesday evening.

Mourning the loss of lives, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the nation would remain indebted to Pandey and Singh for their supreme sacrifice.

--IANS

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