Bodies of 1968 AN-12 crash victims recovered by Army
Army Mountaineers recover bodies of four victims from 1968 AN-12 Aircraft crash
After 56 years, the bodies of four Indian Air Force personnel from an AN-12 transport plane crash have been recovered in Himachal Pradesh. The plane went down in the snow-covered mountains near Rohtang on February 7, 1968, while carrying 102 personnel. Recent search efforts led by the army’s Ladakh Scouts resulted in the recovery of these bodies from the Dhaka glacier area at an altitude of nearly 16,000 feet.
Three of the soldiers have been identified: Sepoys Malkhan Singh, Narayan Singh, and Thomas Charan. Their identification was made possible through personal items like a voucher and paybooks found with them. However, the fourth soldier remains unidentified. The families of the identified soldiers have been notified about the recovery.
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Continuing recovery efforts
The mission to recover more bodies is ongoing, with efforts scheduled to continue until October 10. This recent recovery adds to the nine bodies found in previous years, with the wreckage first spotted in 2003 by mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports. Previous recovery missions occurred in 2005, 2006, 2013, and 2019.
The AN-12 had taken off from Chandigarh and was on its way to Leh when it crashed. The latest expedition, part of the Chandra Bhaga mountain mission, shows the army’s commitment to bring closure to the families of the victims. The Dogra Scouts, known for their high-altitude expertise, led this search, overcoming harsh weather and difficult terrain.
In September, the Indian Army signed an agreement with Tiranga Mountain Rescue to enhance its capabilities in mountain rescue operations. This collaboration aims to train army instructors in avalanche rescue and survival skills. The efforts made by the army and TMR demonstrate their dedication to supporting families who have waited decades for closure regarding their loved ones.
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