KARNATAKA witnessed its worst ever air mishap on May 22 when an Air India Express Boeing 737 flight carrying 169 passengers on board overshot the runway while landing at Bajpe airport at Mangalore and got burst into flames. The flight was coming from Dubai. It was a cloudy Saturday morning with heavy rains. The mishap resulted in the death of 158 passengers including the crew members.
The rescue operation was not an easy task at the site as it was little rural and with forest area. With the fire brigade personals and emergency staff, the local public especially the RSS swayamsevaks involved themselves in the rescue operation. The Sangh volunteers extended timely help during the day long rescue operation at the air crash site.
More than 100 swayamsevaks from the nearby areas rushed to the spot and started rescue operation from 6.40 am onwards. Shri Nalin Kumar, local MP, also a swayamsevak, was there from 7.00 am to 7.45 pm leading the operation with local karyakartas. Due to the bad weather the rescue operation got delayed, however extensive support from public and RSS swayamsevaks was extended timely. Shri BG Chengappa, director of Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services also rushed to the spot and led the rescue work.
(VSK, Andhra Pradesh)
