For the past five years, fish merchant B.H. Aboobacker from Malpe could not come down to Mangaluru and attend the annual programme to pay homage to 158 persons who died in the air crash on May 22, 2010. Mr. Aboobacker’s second son Naveed Ibrahim (23) was one among the deceased.
Mr. Aboobacker was the lone representative of the family members of air crash victims who participated in the memorial function held at the new 22/5 park in Kuloor on Sunday. It has been developed by the New Mangalore Port Trust on the land where 12 unidentified air crash victims were buried.
“Though I wanted to come, I was not able to attend the annual programme until now,” said 65-year-old Aboobacker, overcoming emotion. Naveed Ibrahim had resigned his job in Dubai and was returning to his home town in the Air India Express flight. “We are yet to come to terms with the loss of Naveed. The tragedy still haunts,” said Mr. Aboobacker, who is still fighting for compensation.
'Difficult to forget'
Maxim D’Silva, the then contractor of Mangaluru City Corporation to bury unclaimed bodies, said it was difficult to forget days following the air crash. Many of the bodies were charred beyond recognition. Though there were claimants, some bodies could not be handed over to relatives as DNAs did not match. Mr. D’Silva showed the place in the middle of the park where separate pits were dug for each of the 12 victims and buried with honours. He was happy to see a park and a memorial in the land, which, he said, would give respect to departed souls.
District In-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, Mangaluru International Airport Director J. T. Radhakrishna, Air India Mangaluru Station Manager Nagesh Shetty and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K.M. Shantharaju participated in the programme.
Mr. Ibrahim said the park had been developed by the NMPT at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh. A memorial will come up at the park at a cost of Rs. 9 lakh. The Air India and Airport Authority of India have been asked to share the cost of the memorial, he said.
