IAF agrees to re-route sorties

The Indian Air Force authorities have agreed to re-examine and re-route the sorties taken by the Ambala-based fighter aircraft during routin...

The Indian Air Force authorities have agreed to re-examine and re-route the sorties taken by the Ambala-based fighter aircraft during routine exercises even as the death toll in yesterday’s IAF Jaguar accident rose to six.

Addressing mediapersons here, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj said Air Chief Marshal S.K. Krishnaswamy had assured her of the decision during a telephonic discussion. She said she had taken up the sensitive issue of security of civilian population with the IAF chief. Krishnaswamy stressed the importance of the Ambala air base which had enabled the IAF to win three wars against Pakistan.

Crash an accident: George

PATNA: Terming the Jaguar crash at Ambala as an ‘‘accident’’, Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Wednesday that he had called a high-level meeting of the IAF in New Delhi on November 8 to review why such mishaps were taking place. ‘‘It was an accident,’’ was his reply to mediapersons who approached him at Jayprakash Narayan Airport here for his comments on Tuesday’s aircraft crash which claimed six lives in Ambala Cantonment area.

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He ruled out the shifting of existing airbases close to residential areas in view of the successive mishaps involving fighter planes, saying ‘‘an accident can happen anywhere.’’
The Minister, however, said a court of inquiry had already been ordered into Tuesday’s crash and ‘‘let us wait for its findings.’’ (PTI)

Sushma said the Defence Ministry would pay for the damages after the state government sent a detailed assessment. The Deputy Commissioner had been directed to assess the losses suffered by the residents in the crash and submit a report at the earliest.

She promised to take up with the concerned ministry the issue of providing economic aid to the affected families. ‘‘I will also talk to the Air Force authorities if they can provide employment to at least one member each of the affected families,’’ she said.

Meanwhile, the death toll in yesterday’s Jaguar crash has risen to six with the body of eight-year-old Parveen having been pulled out and Bimla, a housewife, who had been admitted to the Military Hospital here, succumbing to her burns today. District Medical Officer Dr Umesh Lamba who is looking after the injured in different hospitals said the condition of three, including five-year-old Shivani, continued to be serious.

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Bodies of five victims — Nirmala, Arti, Lajwanti, Bimla and Bharat — were cremated at the Babyal cremation ground here in the afternoon. The cremation ceremony was attended by Sushma Swaraj, Himachal Pradesh Governor Suraj Bhan and Haryana Health Minister M.L. Ranga. Ranga said a grant-in-aid of Rs 1 lakh each would be given to the affected families. Besides, the government will also bear the medical expenses of the injured.