Military honors, 21-gun salute for IAF pilot killed in chopper-crash
The funeral of 33-year-old Indian Air Force Squadron Leader, Ninad Mandavgane, who was killed in the Mi-17 chopper crash in Jammu & Kashmir's Budgam district on 27 February, was held in Maharashtra's Nashik with full military honors on Friday. Mandavgane was cremated on river Godavari's banks and given a 21-gun salute. Six others and a civilian were also killed in the crash. Here's more.
Mandavgane's mortal remains were flown from New Delhi to Ojhar
Mandavgane's mortal remains were flown from New Delhi to Ojhar by a special IAF aircraft earlier on Thursday night. Officials like IAF Station Ojhar Commanding Officer, Commodore Samir Borade, Nashik Collector B Radhakrishna, among others paid tributes to Mandavgane. Later, his body was taken to Nashik where a large number of people gathered to pay respects to the IAF pilot at the crematorium.
About Squadron Leader Ninad Mandavgane
Squadron Leader Ninad Mandavgane is reportedly survived by his father, wife, and a two-year-old daughter. Before joining the air force, he studied at Nashik's Bhonsala Military School, Services Preparatory Institute (SPI) in Aurangabad, and the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune.
We do not want war, says Mandavgane's wife
Ninad Mandavgane's wife, Vijeta, said, "We do not want war. You do not realize the damage a war inflicts on people... No other Ninad should be lost from either side." "I would want to request these social media warriors to stop doing what they are doing... If you have so much 'Josh' then join the force and see how it feels," she said.
