Punjab cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot handed over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Wing Commander Mandeep Singh Dhillon, commanding officer of the Tezpur-based Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) unit, who attained martyrdom while on a rescue operation in Arunachal Pradesh on July 4.
The government has announced a total ex-gratia amount of Rs 12 lakh and a government job for a member of the family of the martyr.
Attending the ‘Antim Ardaas’ at Gurdwara Moti Bagh Sahib in Patiala on Sunday, Dharamsot added that the Punjab government was committed to ensure the well-being of families of martyrs. He lauded the role of Wing Cdr Dhillon in rescuing 169 people from landslide-hit areas, before his helicopter crashed.
“This is a sad day for any father, but I am proud of my son as he saved many lives,” said the martyr’s father, Sqn Ldr PS Dhillon (retd).
“My husband would always volunteer for such rescue and relief missions ahead of others. Flying for flood-relief or evacuation always remained his top priority. He just wanted to help others in every possible way and also performed ‘Seva’ in langars at gurdwara wherever possible,” his wife Prabhpreet Kaur Dhillon said.
Remembering her last conversation with the martyr, she added, “That day, I wanted him to take our daughter to the Station Medicare Centre as she was running fever. He said he had to go for a flood-relief mission. In the process of saving other lives, he lost his own life.”
{{/usCountry}}Remembering her last conversation with the martyr, she added, “That day, I wanted him to take our daughter to the Station Medicare Centre as she was running fever. He said he had to go for a flood-relief mission. In the process of saving other lives, he lost his own life.”
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