On Wednesday, following an intense aerial fight between the air forces of India and Pakistan, IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was held captive by the neighbouring country, while India said it had shot down an Pakistani F-16 jet for violating the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Around the same time, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crashed in Budgam near Srinagar, killing two pilots and four others onboard, besides a local. Over the next two days, the diplomatic face-offs and media frenzy to ensure the safe return of Abhinandan from Pakistan consumed the nation.As Indians cheered the wing commander’s return through the Wagah Border late in the evening on Friday, the mortal remains of the pilots and IAF officers were consigned to flames with full military honours in their respective towns.
Life has also changed for the villagers of Gariend Kallan in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, where the chopper had crashed, as they lost one of their own.
Kifayat Ahmad Ganai, who had run towards the burning debris that fell on a brick kiln, died. “His body was burnt beyond recognition with a severed leg. Initially, we thought he was the pilot,” said Hilal, a student.
A day before the crash, the IAF had dropped bombs on Pakistani soil and the air was filled with cries of war in India and Pakistan. On Wednesday, following an intense aerial fight between the air forces of India and Pakistan, IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was held captive by the neighbouring country, while India said it had shot down an Pakistani F-16 jet for violating the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Around the same time, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crashed in Budgam near Srinagar, killing two pilots and four others onboard, besides a local. Over the next two days, the diplomatic face-offs and media frenzy to ensure the safe return of Abhinandan from Pakistan consumed the nation.As Indians cheered the wing commander’s return through the Wagah Border late in the evening on Friday, the mortal remains of the pilots and IAF officers were consigned to flames with full military honours in their respective towns.
Life has also changed for the villagers of Gariend Kallan in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, where the chopper had crashed, as they lost one of their own.
Kifayat Ahmad Ganai, who had run towards the burning debris that fell on a brick kiln, died. “His body was burnt beyond recognition with a severed leg. Initially, we thought he was the pilot,” said Hilal, a student.
A day before the crash, the IAF had dropped bombs on Pakistani soil and the air was filled with cries of war in India and Pakistan.
Source: News18