Shimla, Oct 2
Report coming here from Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh statex that the remains of four soldiers were recovered from the wreckage of the ill-fated AN-12 aircraft that crashed in the Lahaul Valley in 1968.
The Indian Army’s mountaineering expedition team uncovered the remains during their recent expedition near the CB-13 peak (Chandrabhaga-13) in Batal, a remote and treacherous area of Lahaul-Spiti district.
Superintendent of Police Mayank Chaudhary confirmed the discovery, stating that the information was received via satellite phone from the army team.
The remains were expected to arrive at the Losar base by Tuesday evening for further formalities. Preliminary investigations suggest that these remains are likely linked to the crash of the Indian Air Force AN-12 aircraft, which was on a routine flight from Chandigarh to Leh when it crashed due to bad weather, claiming the lives of all 102 personnel onboard.
This tragic accident remains one of the deadliest in Indian military aviation history. Despite numerous search operations over the decades, the rugged terrain and harsh conditions made it difficult to recover the bodies and wreckage.
In 2018, wreckage and the remains of a soldier were found at Dhaka Glacier, reigniting efforts to locate others lost in the crash.
While the discovery of four bodies brings hope, more than 90 soldiers remain missing since the incident.
The recovery of their remains, after 56 years, is a somber reminder of the sacrifices made and a step closer to closure for the families of the martyrs. The search for the remaining soldiers continues.
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