Pall of gloom descends soldier Hemanda Deka's village

From a Correspondent

Batadrava, Oct 8: A pall of gloom descended on Panbari Paghali village adjacent to Jajori of Morigaon district, the tive village of Indian Army soldier Hemanda Deka, popularly known as ‘Okoni’, who was killed when an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed near Tawang in Aruchal Pradesh, close to the Indo-Chi border on Friday morning killing all seven military personnel on board. The family members were shocked to hear the news and were inconsolable. Hemanda Deka is survived by his parents, wife and six-year old girl.

Son of ndiram Deka and Binda Deka, 34-year-old Hemanda joined Indian Army in the year 2002 at the age of 19 as cadet. As soon as the news of his demise spread, thousands of people of nearby villages reached Hemanda’s residence and tried to console his family members. His body  will be cremated at his tive village. MLA of Batadrava, Angoorlata Deka condoled the demise of Hemanda Deka and extended her heartfelt sympathies to the members of the bereaved family. The Mi-17 V5 IAF chopper crashed around 6.30 am on Friday at an altitude of 17,000 feet near Tawang when it was on an air maintence mission. The helicopter was flying to Yangtse to drop off kerosene jerry cans at an Army camp. The charred bodies of seven, including the pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer and two army soldiers were found at the crash site close to the border with Chi.