Shimla, Aug 14: The skeletal remains of jawan Beli Ram, who died in the an-12 transport aircraft crash near south Dakka glacier at an altitude of 16,000 ft Himachal Pradesh 35 years ago, were retrieved by rescue army teams today. The remains were brought to the base camp from the glacier and embalmed before sending the same to Akhnoor by helicopter. The skeletal remains were handed over to Gyano Devi, wife of Beli Ram for taking them to Pullanwala where the cremation would take place with full military honours. The body was sighted in the tribal Spiti Valley by a trekking expedition of Himalayan institute of mountaineering and allied sports on July 25 last and the information reached Manali on August 1 after the Tekkers returned.

The skeletal remains of Beli Ram were wrapped in his army overcoat and several documents, including his service book, a railway warrant and some letters were recovered from the body which helped in establishing his identity.

A 48-member team, consisting of army and airforce personnel and trekkers and instructors from mountaineering institute had left for Dakka glacier from Manali on August 8 after Recce of the area by army helicopters and set up the base camp at point 6264 near Batal.
The rescue teams reached the glacier spread over an area of 2-sq km where the wreckage of the crashed aircraft were scattered and partially covered under the snow. Parts of bodies of some other victims were also spotted but there was no other body which could be identified. Bureau Report