On February 7, 1968, an Indian Air Force transport aircraft AN12 took off from Chandigarh towards Leh but tragically crashed into the Dhaka Glacier in the Rohtang Range due to severe weather. Among the 102 passengers, including crew members, was soldier Narayan Singh Bisht. Their fates remained unknown.
Last Departed for Duty in 1967
Narayan Singh, hailing from Kolpuri village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, served in the medical corps of the army. He married Basanti of the same village in 1962. Like many soldiers, Narayan came home once a year. His last departure for duty was in 1967, leaving behind his parents and wife.
Source: aajtak
Basanti Devi and the fallen hero Narayan Singh (file photo)
For the Family, He Was Always Missing
On the fateful day of February 7, 1968, amidst the icy valleys, 102 people, including soldiers, vanished without a trace. Their families, however, were informed of the disaster. Narayan Singh's disappearance became known, marking him as missing for his loved ones.
How Did Basanti Devi’s Life Change?
When the news reached the family, it left wife Basanti and parents in shock, along with villagers. With vague information about his disappearance, the family held onto hope for Narayan's return. The next decade was spent in anticipation. His aging parents fell ill, leaving only Basanti to run the household. Consequently, Narayan’s parents adopted their nephew Bhavan Singh, and Basanti remained his wife in spirit. As time passed, the family grew with Basanti raising five daughters and two sons.
In an exclusive conversation with aajtak.in, youngest son Jayveer Singh recalled how since childhood, he heard about his uncle Narayan Singh and the tragic incident from his mother Basanti. Even after her passing in 2011, the family held hope for news about Narayan. His return, however, came wrapped in the national flag rather than the embrace of his loved ones.
Source: aajtak
A document found with the remains
Narayan Singh Returned, But Draped in the Tricolor
Jayveer Singh shares that till her last breath, his mother never let go of hope for any news about Narayan. This long wait ended with a letter from the army on October 1, 2024, saying Narayan Singh Bisht’s body was recovered from the Rohtang pass. Thus, Narayan returned home, solemnly wrapped in the tricolor.
Many Search Efforts Made
Following the 1968 crash, periodic searches were carried out to find the missing. Several attempts were made. In 2003, a team from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Mountaineering Institute uncovered initial remains, and recently, a combined effort by the Dogra Scouts and the Tricolor Mountain Rescue Team found four more remnants in the snow, including that of Narayan, recognized along with Malkhan Singh and Thomas Cherian.
How Did the Body Stay Preserved for 56 Years?
Remarkably, Narayan’s body remained mostly intact with his uniform and nameplate despite decades under snow. His pocket contained a paper with his village and wife Basanti Devi’s name. Officers say that the accident site’s icy climes helped preserve the body exceedingly well over the years.
Source: aajtak
On October 3, Narayan Singh's remains reached his ancestral village Kolpuri. Jayveer Singh recounts that as the hero’s body arrived, the air filled with cries of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. Narayan Singh’s ultimate farewell was performed with full military honors. Jayveer sighs that despite the lack of governmental support during his mother’s life, she would have relished her status as a martyr’s wife, cherishing the wait till her final breath.
