Bhubaneswar: State paid rich tribute to Junior Warrant Officer (JWO) of Indian Air Force, Rana Pratap Das, who died in the tragic helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8.
The mortal remains of Das, who lost his life along with Chief Difence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others in the helicopter clash, was reached at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here in the morning, where a guard of honour was given.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, several Ministers, MLAs, DGP Abhay and many other political leaders paid floral tributes to mortal remains of Das at the airport.
Patnaik while paying floral tribute on the mortal remains of shaheed Rana Pratap Das highly praised his dedicated service and patriotism and expressed his sympathies to the bereaved family members.
Later, the mortal remains of Das were taken to his native village Krushnachandrapur in a special ambulance with police escort. Last rites of Das were performed there with full military honour. Huge number of people turned up to the village to pay tributes to Das. Rana was survived by his wife, a one-year-old son and his elderly parents.
