Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Dorjee Khandu died in Pawan Hans Crash

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Dorji Khandu on a flight from Tawang died along with four others after their helicopter crashed in bad weather in the mountains.The Pawan Hans helicopter carrying among others Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Dorjee Khandu had gone missing on 30 April 2011. The search operation that followed came to an on 4 May 2011 when Dorjee's body was found among the wreckage of the Pawan Hans at 15,000ft near Luguthang, 60 km from Tawang town. Luguthang is one of the world's highest villages and India's remotest polling station. The chopper was spotted in a place between Kyela and Lobothang in the north east of the Sila pass in the mountainous region of Arunachal Pradesh.

Captian Jaspreet Singh Babbar and KS Malick, Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak and Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup’s sister Yeshi Lamu were on board with the Chief Minister Dorji Khandu. A total of five people including the pilot perished in the crash of single-engined EuroCopter B8 of Pawan Hans.

Khandu who was born in Tawang District of North East Frontier Agency on 3 March 1955 belonged to Monpa tribe. Khandu had worked in the military intelligence and participated in the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. He had received a gold medal for meritorious service during the war.

He belonged to the Indian National Congress and was the sixth Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He was elected to the third Legislative Assembly of the State of Arunachal Pradesh and had served as the Minister for Mines, Relief & Rehabilitation from 15 October 2002 to 27 July 2003. He was re elected in 2009 general elections for the second term as the chief minister. On 9 April 2007, he had become the Chief Minister of the state for the first time replacing Gegong Apang. Prior to becoming the Chief Minister he had served in the capacity of Minister for Relief & Rehabilitation and Disaster Managemen, minister for Power, NCER, and relief and rehabilitation.

This is the second death of a chief minister in two years after the death of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in the Nallamalla ranges in September 2009. There was also another crash involving a Pawan Hans helicopter in mid-April in Arunachal mountains in which 17 people were killed.

NEFA became a Union Territory in 1972 when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister and acquired the name of Arunachal Pradesh. In 1975, it acquired a legislature and on 20 February 1987 Statehood was conferred on Arunachal Pradesh when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister and it became the 25th State of the Union of India. Arunachal Pradesh, area-wise, is the largest state of the NE region of India. The McMohan line that defines the international boundary between India and China falls in the state. Arunachal’s capital Itanagar in Papum Pare district is named after Ita Fort meaning fort of bricks, built in 14th century AD.

People in the state of Arunachal Pradesh may be divided into three cultural groups on the basis of their socio-religious affinities. The Monpas and Sherdukpens of Tawang and West Kameng districts follow the lamaistic tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. Membas and Khambas live in the high mountains along the northern borders. Khamptis and Singphos inhabiting the eastern part of the State are Buddhists of Hinayana sect. The second group of the people are Adis, Akas, Apatanis, Bangnis, Nishis, Mishmis, Mijis, Thongsas etc., who worship Sun and Moon God.The third group comprising Noctes and Wanchos practise elementary form of Vaishnavism.