Fatal Flights in our country

Our country has lost a number of efficient politicians in chopper crashes. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. YSR Reddy recently lost his life in a chopper crash. This only speaks of the increasing number of VIPs falling prey to such aerial accidents. Helicopters have been in demand for the VIPs’ travel. A lot of politicians prefer a helicopter to supervise droughts or flood, pay surprise visits to their constituencies or even for election campaigns. In the process some have lost their lives while others got lucky. Some of whom have lost their  lives were Sanjay Gandhi, Madhavrao Scindia, GMC Balayogi, S Mohan Kumaramangalam, OP Jindal, C Sangma etc. However, perhaps our greatest freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was the first to lose his life in a plane crash. Even though some people till date believe that he escaped the crash.

Sanjay Gandhi, son of Indira Gandhi died in an air crash on June 23, 1980 near Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi, while flying a new aircraft of the Delhi Flying Club.

Madhavrao Scindia, a senior Congress leader and Cabinet minister was killed in a plane crash in September 30, 2001 while on his way to Kanpur to address a public rally.

GMC Balayogi, Speaker of Lok Sabha died in a helicopter crash on March 3, 2002 in Andhra Pradesh. Balayogi was in a Bell 206 helicopter.

S Mohan Kumaramangalam, a Congress leader, died in a plane crash in 1973 near New Delhi.

OP Jindal, Haryana’s then power minister and a noted industrialist was killed along with agriculture minister Surendra Singh in a chopper crash on March 31, 2005 near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Sangma, the then Meghalaya community development Minister died in another chopper crash in September 2004.

Many cite various reasons for the accidents but what remains a fact is that we have lost quite a number of our leaders who have served our country. On 2nd September, 2009, we lost such a dedicated leader who’s foremost ideal in life was his duty towards the people. It has been learnt that the government of Andhra Pradesh is hoping to declare 2nd September a State holiday from next year onwards. May the soul of such great heroes rest in peace.