The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the tragic crash of an Indian Air Force Rescue Helicopter in Uttarakhand on June 25, 2013 in which a number of personnel belonging to the IAF, ITBP and NDRF performing rescue and relief work sadly lost their lives.
In a condolence message to Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne the President has said, “In this moment of grief, I offer my most profound condolences to the grieving families of the victims. I salute the courage and supreme sacrifice of the heroes who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
I am proud of the exemplary manner in which the IAF has responded to the challenge of rescuing and saving thousands of lives in the face of the fury of nature and at a time of grave crisis. The IAF’s determination to “keep moving on” irrespective of the tragedy and until the last stranded pilgrim is rescued is in the finest traditions of the Indian Armed Forces.
Please inform the brave Air Warriors engaged in operations in Uttarakhand that my thoughts and prayers are with them. Kindly also convey my sincere words of sympathy to the families of the deceased personnel. I pray to the Almighty to give the bereaved families the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.