IAF helicopter crash: Soldiers’ bodies wrapped in plastics, broken cardboards; Indian Army terms it aberration

Images have purported in social media showing bodies of seven military personnel killed in a helicopter crash at Tawang being wrapped in plastics and broken cardboards.

The image has triggered an outrage across the nation.

Twitteratis are criticising the wrapping of bodies in plastics and usage of broken cardboards to sent the army personnel’s body home.

Lt Gen HS Panag (retd), who had commanded the northern and central commands, had tweeted picture of the bodies of the military personnel including five from Indian Air Force and two jawans from the Indian Army wrapped in plastics and broken cardboard pieces.

Seven young men stepped out into the sunshine yesterday, to serve their motherland. India.
This is how they came home. pic.twitter.com/OEKKcyWj0p

— Lt Gen H S Panag(R) (@rwac48) October 8, 2017

He had also tweeted that military body bags must have been used to transport bodies from forward locations until ceremonial coffins are available.

The outrage, prompted the Army to clarify on Twitter.

The Indian Army termed the carrying of fallen army personnel in broken cardboards as ‘aberration’.

Mortal remains of heptr accident in HAA on 6 Oct 17 recovered, sent wrapped in local resources is an aberration. pic.twitter.com/NDvEvBo87F

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) October 8, 2017

The Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information clarifying on the issue tweeted, “Mortal remains of heptr accident in HAA on 6 Oct 17 recovered, sent wrapped in local resources is an aberration.”

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The Indian Army further tweeted, ““Fallen soldiers always given full military honour. Carriage of mortal remains in body bags, wooden boxes,coffins will be ensured.”

According to a senior army personnel the photographs were taken when the bodies of the personnel were in Guwahati.