13th anniversary of chopper crash today

SHILLONG: The 13th anniversary of the chopper crash that killed all the 10 persons on board at Nongkhla, Kyrdemkulai in Ri-Bhoi district will be observed on Friday.
The ten killed in the crash on September 22, 2004 were the then Community and Rural Development minister Cyprian Sangma, legislators Ardhendu Chaudhuri and Heltone Marak, GHADC chairman Rikseng Sangma, 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.
While no state function has been organised to pay tribute to the departed souls, private functions are scheduled on Friday.
The death anniversary of former Mawprem legislator, Ardhendu Chaudhuri will be observed at a function in Rilbong here at 4.30 pm.
The Ardhendu Chaudhuri Charitable Trust will launch a series of welfare schemes for BPL families on the occasion in the presence of Chief Secretary Y Tsering and East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner PS Dkhar. According to the final probe report available with The Shillong Times, the pilot of the ill-fated Dauphin Helicopter VT EKZ operated by Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd had taken a delayed decision to return to Guwahati and subsequently encountered bad weather, resulting in the crash at the hillock at Nongkhla around 1:20 pm on that day.