The mortal remains of soldier Thomas Cherian, who died after an aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed over the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh in 1968, was laid to rest on Friday.
The twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft AN-12, carrying as many as 102 people, had gone missing on February 7, 1968, while flying from Chandigarh to Leh. For decades, the wreckage and remains of the victims remained lost in the icy terrain.
A few days ago, the remains of Cherian and a few others were found by a joint team comprising personnel from the Dogra Scouts of the Indian Army and Tiranga Mountain Rescue.
Tributes to Thomas Cherian, the Indian Army Braveheart from Pathanamthitta who tragically lost his life in IAF An12 plane crash in Himachal Pradesh in 1968. 🫡
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) October 4, 2024
Fifty-six years later, the mortal remains of four #Bravehearts were discovered earlier this week in one of India's… pic.twitter.com/FudheBNWMF
The mortal remains of Cherian were received at Air Force Station Shangumugham in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday with full military honours.
Mortal remains of soldier CFN Thomas Cherian EME Corps (died in 1968) received today with full #Militaryhonours at AF Station, #Shangumugham. Stn Cdrs of #PangodeMilitary Stn & AF Stn, Shankhumukham,Central,State dignitaries & deceased soldier's NOK laid wreath. @giridhararamane pic.twitter.com/H2qjqpUeeI
— PRO Defence Trivandrum (@DefencePROTvm) October 3, 2024
Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Kerala Health Minister Veena George, military officials including Brigadier Salil M.P. and Group Captain T.N. Manikandan, and other military officials from the Army and Air Force, along with the relatives of the deceased soldier, including his brother Thomas Thomas, paid homage to the departed soldier.
The remains of Mr.Thomas Cheriyan, an Indian Army Soldier who died in a 1968 plane crash, were recovered 56 years after the tragic incident.
— कर्णन (കർണ്ണൻ) (@Karnnan2255) October 3, 2024
He was on board an Indian Air Force AN-12 aircraft that crashed over the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh.#IAF #Jaihind 🙏🫡🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/0bV3dNtR1H
On Friday morning, the soldier's mortal remains were brought to the residence of Shaiju K. Mathew, son of Cherian’s elder brother, Thomas Mathew.
The soldier's body was kept for public viewing between 1 and 2 pm.
The funeral took place at the Karur St Peter's Orthodox Church in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. He was laid to rest with full military honours in a specially prepared burial chamber.
"I was just 12 when the aircraft crash happened. I still have vivid memories of my brother. He used to bring us so many things whenever he came home," Cheriyan's sister has been quoted as saying. "We consider the recovery of his mortal remains as a great blessing. We thank God for this," she added.
