Thu Oct 03 18:41:40 UTC 2024: ## 56 Years After Crash, Remains of Air Force Officer Found in Himalayas
**Manali, Himachal Pradesh:** After 56 years, the remains of Thomas Cheriyan, an Indian Air Force officer who perished in a plane crash in the Rohtang Pass, have been recovered. Cheriyan’s body was one of four discovered by a joint team of Indian Army personnel and the Tiranga Mountain Rescue, bringing bittersweet relief to his family in Kerala.
The tragic incident occurred on February 7, 1968, when an AN-12 aircraft carrying 102 people went missing while flying from Chandigarh to Leh. The wreckage and the remains of the victims were lost in the treacherous Himalayan terrain for decades.
Cheriyan’s siblings expressed mixed emotions, saying they were “happy and sad at the same time”. They were thrilled to finally have the opportunity to give their brother a proper farewell but were deeply saddened by the circumstances.
“We don’t know how to explain the situation. We are equally happy and sad,” one of Cheriyan’s siblings told reporters.
The family, who hadn’t seen Cheriyan since he joined the army, recalled his kindness and the memories they cherished. “He used to bring us so many things whenever he came home,” Cheriyan’s sister shared.
The discovery of the remains has brought renewed hope to the families of the victims. The Army’s efforts in the search mission, spanning several expeditions since 2003, have been lauded by the families. Cheriyan’s body will be buried in their local parish after the necessary rituals are performed.
The family is now hoping that the Army might be able to provide them with a photograph of their brother from their old records, as they don’t possess one.
First Piper 