Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, an Indian Air Force pilot, tragically died in a Su-30 MKI fighter jet crash in Assam, leaving behind a grieving family and a legacy of dedication to his country.
Key Points
- Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar died in a Su-30 MKI fighter jet crash during a training sortie in Assam.
- Purvesh Duragkar's father remembers him as a dedicated IAF pilot who took immense pride in flying fighter jets.
- The pilot had participated in Operation Sindoor, India's response to terror bases in Pakistan.
- Purvesh Duragkar was operating from Jorhat airbase due to runway work at his original posting in Tezpur.
- The family, including Purvesh and his sister, had a get-together ten days before the tragic accident.
Ravindra Duragkar could only recall memories of his son, Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, the most vivid being their phone chat on Wednesday and his visit home ten days ago for a family get-together.
As IAF officials tried to console the retired railway employee at his home in Nagpur's New Subedar Layout, the grief-stricken father occasionally regained his composure to say that Purvesh took immense pride in flying a fighter jet.
2 pilots killed in Su-30 MKI crash
Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh were killed when a Su-30 MKI fighter jet crashed in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, the IAF said on Friday.
The jet was on a training sortie and disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase on Thursday.
"We had spoken on Wednesday. His Group Captain got in touch with us and informed us about the accident," said Ravindra, his eyes welling up.
His 28-year-old son had taken part in Operation Sindoor, which India launched to target terror bases in Pakistan following last year's Pahalgam attack, he said, adding that Purvesh was deeply committed to his work.
Family recalls family reunion
Ravindra said Purvesh was originally posted in Tezpur, Assam, but was operating from Jorhat as work was being carried out on the Tezpur runway.
A neighbour told PTI that Purvesh is survived by his parents and a sister settled in the US. Purvesh and his sister, an IITian, had come home ten days ago for a family get-together, the neighbour said. Ravindra also recalled the family function.
Purvesh, who did his schooling in Nagpur, was single. Ravindra said his son's body is likely to reach Nagpur in the evening.
"My son was extremely proud to be part of the Indian Air Force. He would sometimes share his experience of flying fighter planes and the speeds that IAF jets achieve. He held his colleagues in high regard," he said.
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