Karkala loses its son-in-law in Coonoor helicopter crash

Karkala: The horrific Mi-17V5 chopper crash near Coonoor on December 8 that resulted in the deaths of the chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika, defence assistant Brigadier LS Lidder, and 10 others has turned the spotlight on previous air accidents involving top military officials.

In this tragic accident, Karkala town of Udupi has also lost its son-in-law Lt Col Harjinder Singh.

Lt Col Harjinder Singh had married Lt Agnes Prafulla Menezes, daughter of the late Felix and Mary Menezes of Salmara here in Karkala.

They both fell in love with each other and got married.

Agnes Prafulla Menezes had also served in the Indian Army for many years.

Mary Menezes, mother of Agnes Prafulla Menezes, currently resides in Salmara house. The relatives of the Menezes family said that the couple had visited the family’s native house in Salmara a few times.

Lt Col Harjinder Singh, belonged to 11 Gorkha Rifles, the same regiment as Rawat. He had served in various operations with his battalion including deployment on the Siachen Glacier and a tenure in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission. He originally belonged to Lucknow but the family later settled in New Delhi.