PM, Sonia Attend Khandu's Funeral

The funeral of Dorjee Khandu, the late Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh who lost his life 5 days ago when the Pawan Hans helicopter he was travelling in crashed in the hilly and forested region of Keyla, was conducted on Friday morning.

The wrecked remains of the chopper and the battered bodies of its passengers were located by the local yak herders, who, along with the army, walked through knee-high snow to retrieve the bodies.

The funeral that was conducted at Khandu's ancestral home in Itanagar was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The late CM's funeral was performed by lamas (Buddhist gurus) in conformation with Buddhist traditions.

Meanwhile, a 3-member committee was formed to probe the cause of the helicopter crash. Headed by Retd. Air Marshal P S Ahluwalia, the team is expected to hand in its report in 3 days. The local yak hearders say that they witnessed the copter plunge from a great height, and erupt in flames as it fell along a rugged mountain slope.

Prior to the funeral conducted on Friday morning, Power Minister and Government Spokesperson Jarbom Gamlin was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh by Governor J J Singh, at a sombre ceremony.

Gamlin was chosen over 5 other contestants by Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday evening.