100 lives and my last operational flight

Indian Parliament was attacked by gunmen in December 2001 .. The pak sponsored terror angle was deeply being investigated and the government of the day warned the armed forces to be ready for any eventuality . 1/n

This was the period when my release from service had come through and I was getting ready for civilian life , with no idea where to go and what to do . I was in Sena bhavan trying to register with DGR for jobs having done a course in industrial security . 2/n

I was within 2 kms of parliament when it was attacked and still remember the news being played out on the radio of the shop where I stopped to grab a sandwich after all the running around , which many ex servicemen will easily relate to 3/n

In a few months , I would be an ex serviceman . The thought would often cross my mind but the decision was made and I was on my way out ! The heart therefore was heavy while I was busy conducting my last few heading a two helicopter dett . In Srinagar 4/n

Flights in my favorite bird the Mi-171vs was heavy I was trying to soak as much of Kashmir where I spent 6 long years navigating the mountains would soon fade into a memory. I would be out in the rough and tumble of the civilian world of which I had no idea at that point 5/n

The flying was heavy as all the ballot boxes were being transported by helicopters .We were operating a single Mi8 detachment at Imphal . Night parking was at the Manipur University Helipad. We started our day at 0700h and had been flying for 7hours. 1/n

It was 5 pm. Exhausted after a heavy days flying I was ready to retire to our rooms. As I was shutting down the helicopter , I saw a BSF Jeep pull alongside the Helipad with a commandant rank officer jump out. The urgency in his moves told me something was not right . 2/n

As the helicopter was being shutdown by the flight engineer , I asked the co pilot to take controls and walked out towards the BSF officer .The helicopter blades were still turning. The officer told me that a BSF party has been ambushed near likhai and they have 7 injured 3/n

We checked the fuel onbaord and immediately within 5 minutes got airborne towards likhai. We were told that the casualties have been brought to a football ground near the road going South of Churachandpur. I was airborne meanwhile I heard a flurry of radio calls of two other 4/n

Helicopters airborne for the area .They were near shillong and would take 40 minutes more than me. I told them that I am on the way and they turned back . From knowledge of the terrain I knew that a BSF unit wa stationed in the area with a Helipad. I headed for that helipad 5/n

Akshay Trutiya Wishes To All..!!!