Families of J&K men pray for their safe return
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, August 12
The families of three IAF men aboard the AN-32 transport aircraft that disappeared over the Bay of Bengal on July 22 are awaiting news about the status of the search operation.
Three IAF men from Jammu were among 29 defence personnel aboard the missing aircraft. They are Gurdyal Choudhary (28), a resident of Banyari village in Kathua, Pritam Chand (22) of Karma Papriya village, Ramban, and Ravi Dev Singh (19) of Pakhali Village of Udhampur.
The families wait and pray in the hope that their loved one will return soon.
“Umeed par duniya kayam hai. We still hope that he will be alright at some place where the rescue teams are yet to reach. Our hope will never die till we get an official confirmation from the government,” said Ravi’s uncle Ram Rattan Singh.
He said the IAF authorities were in touch with them and they had set up a helpline for the families of the missing persons. “Our family has been going through a tough phase, but we have not left hope. We believe that God will protect our boy,” he said.
Gurdyal Choudhary’s father Chuda Ram Choudhary said the IAF men were visiting their family members staying at Chennai daily and had been helping them.
“Though we have little hope about the well-being of the missing persons, our family members have been camping in Chennai and praying that all on board are safe,” he said.
IAF man Pritam Chand’s uncle Des Raj said, “We are ‘Pahari’ people and we don’t give up hope easily. Pritam’s parents are shattered but hopeful about their son’s well-being.” The families slammed the ruling PDP-BJP coalition for not offering any help to them.
