Moodbidri: To JP With Love - Friends Dedicate Stage To M'lore Air Crash Victim

News & Pics: Shekar Ajekar
Daijiworld Media Network—Moodbidri (RD/CN)

Moodbidri, May 21: On Sunday May 22, it will be a year since the tragic air crash occurred at Mangalore Airport. On that fateful day, the Air India Express flight from Dubai crashed into the hillock beside the tarmac at Kenjar, early in the morning. 

One-hundred-fifty-eight passengers on the flight perished in the first ever air crash in Mangalore. The law suits by a few bereaved families seeking compensation are still pending in court. The friends of one of the victims have built a stage as a memorial to the friendship that they enjoyed during his lifetime. 
The stage will be inaugurated on Sunday, which will be the first death anniversary of their cherished friend.

Jayaprakash Devadiga, fondly called JP by his friends, was on the ill-fated flight. He was born in the remote village of Kemtoor, under the purview of Padumarnad, near here, but grew up in his brother-in-law’s house. His brother-in-law’s family loved him like their own son. He was loved by all in the neighbourhood.

The members of both men’s and women’s clubs functioning in the neighbourhood here have contributed to building the spacious stage in the remote village. Youth Club president and gram panchayat member Ramesh Shetty, Prajna women’s club president Sasikala, Sarojini Muddu Moily, Krishna Sherigar, and all members contributed their mite to the cause.