Mangalore: Unknown Miscreants Demolish Air Crash Victims' Memorial
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Oct 5: To their horror and disbelief, the people and authorities concerned found today that a memorial built at the site of the air crash of Air India Express flight IX 812 from Dubai on May 22 this year at Kenjar near Bajpe airport, has been demolished by miscreants. Apparently, boulders were hurled at the memorial to destoy it. There is neither any inkling about those who were behind this heinous act, nor could the motive behind this act be ascertained.
It may be recalled that six black granite slabs with the names of all the 158 ill-fated passengers and six crew members had been installed on an elevated structure at the crash site. It was unveiled on July 27 this year by union civil aviation secretary, M M Nambiar. At the time of unveiling, it was hoped that the names of the victims will go down the annals of history, the memorial will constantly remind the people of this ghastly tragedy and the bitter lessons learnt from it.
Investigations are being undertaken and steps needed to be undertaken are being discussed. Perhaps, the authorities may consider erecting the structure again by providing protective shield to the memorial.