In a major development, the search operations to recover the remains of personnel from the ill-fated Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-12 aircraft that crashed on Rohtang Pass in 1968 have achieved significant breakthrough with the recovery of the remains of four more individuals.
The mission, led by the Dogra Scouts of the Indian Army in collaboration with representatives of Tiranga Mountain Rescue, is a part of the larger Chandra Bhaga Mountain Expedition. According to the a statement from the Indian Army, the joint team has recovered the remains of four more individuals from the site, marking a significant success in one of India’s longest-running search and recovery operations.
The tragedy dates back to February 7, 1968, when an IAF AN-12 aircraft, carrying 102 passengers, went missing after taking off from Chandigarh and encountering severe weather conditions near the Rohtang Pass. For decades, the wreckage and remains of the victims remained lost in the icy terrain.
It was only in 2003 when mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering discovered the wreckage, sparking multiple expeditions over the years by the Indian Army.
The search for the remaining victims continues,
1)Malkhan Singh. Identified by a voucher found in his pocket, Malkhan Singh’s identity was confirmed with the help of documents obtained from Pioneer Records Office. .
2. Sepoy Narayan Singh (AMC). Narayan Singh, a sepoy from the Army Medical Corps (AMC), was identified by his paybook found on his person. Singh hailed from the village of Kolpadi, Chamoli Tehsil in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. His next of kin (NOK) is his wife, Smt Basnati Devi. .
3. While documents recovered from the third body have not conclusively identified the individual, details of the next of kin were found. The wife, Smt Parvati Devi, and father, Mr. Netram, were notified of the discovery.
4. Craftsman Thomas Charan (EME). The remains of CFN Thomas Charan from the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers were identified, with further confirmation through his paybook.