Chopper crash victim reaches Takdah home in coffin

Siliguri: The mortal remains of Havildar Satpal Rai, who died in the Coonoor chopper crash that claimed the life of 12 others, including Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, reached Takdah in Darjeeling on Sunday. The funeral is scheduled to be held on Monday. Rai was the personal security officer of Rawat.
The body arrived on the fourth day after the accident.Sources said Rai’s son Bickal (20) could not identify the body at the mortuary in Delhi and had requested for a DNA test. On request, DNA samples were collected from Rai’s mother Santu Maya (68) and Bickal.
Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista, Siliguri Municipal Corporation board of administration chairperson Gautam Deb , Darjeeling BJP MLA Neeraj Zimba, Matigara-Naxalbari BJP legislator Anandomay Barman, Siliguri SDO N Srinivasa Reddy and other senior dignitaries paid their last respects to Rai.
“I am proud of my father but my heart will never accept this loss,” said Bickal, who serves as a Rifleman in the same regiment as his father — the 5/11 Gorkha Rifles. Rai is survived by his mother, wife Mandira, a daughter and Bickal.