Gloom grips Bobiya, as villagers await their hero`s remains

Kathua: A pall of gloom descended on the border village of Bobiya in Kathua district, with the news of demise of the brave-heart ITBP Inspector Bhim Singh, who lost his life during the rescue operation in Uttarakhand.

The 45-year-old ITBP officer was among 20 personnel and crew killed in a helicopter crash during rescue mission in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, however, his family received the news of his death only yesterday. Singh is survived by his wife Renu, two daughters and a son. Singh along with five other ITBP policemen and nine National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was on board Russian-made Mi-17V5 helicopter of the Indian Air Force, which crashed in a narrow valley in the flood-ravaged hill state. The chopper also carried five IAF personnel. "Just a few days back he told me over phone about his posting in the rescue party and today we have heard the sad news of his demise...It is shocking," Bhim Singh`s elder brother, Balwant Singh said. The brave-heart of the ITBP was posted in Ladakh and had been recently transferred to Noida, said grief-stricken Balwant. "Just four months back we were celebrating his promotion as Inspector... It is really unbelievable," he added. "He was a brave soldier and he has done all of us proud," said his uncle, Tirth Singh. As the 20 soldiers were given guard of honour at Dehradun today in presence of Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and Army Chief General Bikram Singh, the family of Bhim Singh is eagerly awaiting his mortal remains. PTI