Chopper crash: Celebrations turn into mourning for Chib family

Jammu, November 23

The Chib family residing in the Gho Manasa area in the outskirts of Jammu city were in celebratory mood after the wedding of their only son but all this turned into a pall of gloom today as three members of the family, including the newly-weds, were among the seven killed in the helicopter crash at Katra.

Little did the family, knew that the celebratory mood of their only son Arjun Singh Chib's (25) wedding with Vandana (22) on November 18 would turn into mourning, after the newlywed couple along with their cousin lost their lives in the tragic helicopter.

Three members of the family — Arjun Singh Chib, his newlywed wife Vandana and cousin Mahesh were amongst the seven pilgrims who lost their lives in the crash.

"The two (Arjun and Vandana) got married on November 18. The family had given a grand reception on November 19 as it was the wedding of their only son. Today morning the newly-wed couple left to pay their obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi", Preetam Singh Chib a close relative said.

He said Arjun who worked in the Indian Air Force, along with his newly-wed wife Vandana and his cousin Mahesh had left to pay their obeisance to the cave shine of Mata Vaishno Devi early this morning and had booked seats in the ill-fated helicopter.

"The family was in celebratory mood as a large number of the relatives who had come to attend the wedding were still staying with the family, his uncles, cousins all were present in the home today, when the tragic news reached them", Preetam said.

He said the family first saw the news about the helicopter crash on television after which they received a phone call from the police informing them that their son and his wife and the cousin were killed in the helicopter crash.

A pall of gloom descended the village soon after the news of the death of the newlywed couple reached Gho Manasa, village and relatives in large number started to throng the house of the deceased to express their condolences.

"We don't know how to react, we all are shell-shocked, till last night we all were here celebrating and dancing on the wedding of Arjun and in less than 12 hours we are here again to mourn his death", Kulbir Singh a local resident said.

He said that the family was in shock and the parents of the Vandana who lived a few kilometres away too have arrived after they got the news about the death of their daughter and son in law in the tragic incident. — PTI