NEW DELHEI: Gen Jameel Mahmood, Eastern Army Commander, his wife Dilrus Mahmood and seven other army and air force Officers were killed on May 7 when their MI 8helicoptercrashed soon after taking off from highlands of western Bhutan.
According to reports received by the Defence Ministry here, Gen Jameel Mahmood had been on a four day official visit 1o Bhutan, He was going to visit Bhutanese army pickets when the crash took place at 0925 hrs.
Others killed in the crash included his military assistant Col M.H.Ahmed, Col Darshan Singh and Havildar Ghanshyam Singh. Besides, four air force crew members of the helicopter, including the pilot, Squadron Leader Sahu, were also killed.
Three bodies, including that of Gen Mahmood and Squadron Leader Sahu, were identified.
The helicopter had hardly taken off when it disintegrated and crashed into the mountainside, Preliminary reports said the engine of the helicopter caught fire.
Lt Gen Mahmood is survived by two sons and a daughter. One of his son, Major Adil Mahmood, is posted in Delhi with the President’s bodyguard.
Relief helicopters and rescue workers rushed to the spot from the Hashmira base near the Indo Bhutan border. The helicopter was still burning when they arrived.
Senior army officers along with air force personal have flown to the crash site and efforts are being made to fly the body of Gen Mahmood and others back to India for the funeral.
On hearing of the disaster, Bhutanese King Jigme Singhe Wangechuk visited the crash site.
The King has sent a condolence message to the Chief of the Army Staff, General SF Rodrigues expressing deep shock and sorrow at the death of Gen Mahmood.
‘The Government has ordered an inquiry into the crash.
Gen Mahmood is survived by a son and two daughters.
Commissioned in the artillery regiment in January 1957, Lt Gen Mahmood had a brilliant career in the army.
A graduate of the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College, he was decorated with Uttam Yudh Sewa Medal for his services in the Sri Lanka operations.
He took over the command of the Eastern Army on October 1, 1992.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 21, 1993
