SHILLONG: Despite tall promises, the State Government has failed to pay befitting homage to the 10 departed souls who perished in the chopper crash at Nongkhlah, Kyrdemkulai, Ri Bhoi, 10 years ago.
One promise made by the Government in the past was to erect a memorial with the names of all the 10 deceased inscribed on it to mark the day.
Another plan was to develop the accident site as a tourist spot which could have attracted the tourists visiting the State.
However, the Government’s follow up initiative in taking up the innovative steps to pay homage to the departed souls has been lacking.
Moreover, for the last 10 years, the Government has not thought about organizing any commemorative function as a mark of respect for the departed included a former minister, two legislators, a top GHADC functionary and Government officials.
On the 10th anniversary of the chopper crash on Monday, the departed souls will be remembered by their relatives at private gatherings.
10 years ago, in the afternoon of September 22, 2004, all 10 persons on board including three legislators were killed when the Pawan Hans helicopter carrying them crashed at the hillock at Nongkhla in Ri Bhoi district.
Besides the then Community and Rural Development Minister, Cyprian Sangma, legislators Ardhendu Chaudhuri and Heltone Marak, GHADC Chairman Rikseng Sangma, Shillong businessman Shrolenson Marbaniang, Joint Director of Printing, Novelson Sangma, former Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, Ira Marak, retired Joint Director of Labour, Sudhir D Shira, Pawan Hans pilot, Captain P. Jain and Co-pilot Captain R. Anand were killed in the crash.
The accident took place on a foggy afternoon on September 22 when the Pawan Hans chopper was trying to return to Guwahati after it was forced to abort landing in Shillong due to the inclement weather. There was light rain throughout the day. The chopper was scheduled to land in Upper Shillong at around 1:30 pm, half-an-hour after taking off from Guwahati.
As per reports, the chopper first took off from Tura, and halted for refuelling at Guwahati at around 12.45 pm before starting its trip to Shillong.
It was at around 1.05 pm that the Shillong air traffic control lost contact with the helicopter and subsequently, Captain Jain asked for clearance to return to Guwahati due to poor visibility.
The small hillock was flattened due to the impact of the crash and the mangled body parts mixed with wet mud, and debris were all that left on September 22 evening at the hillock at Nongkhlah as witnessed by this scribe.
The chopper service was suspended for long after the crash, but over the years, people in the State have overcome the fear factor.
The ill-fated Pawan Hans helicopter had a single engine, but since August 2012, the Transport department has been using a Dauphin Double engine aircraft after the chopper service was again suspended following the death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minsiter Dorjee Khandu on April 30, 2011.