Kartikeyar at 14:44, 14 March 2026

2026-03-14T14:44:05Z

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{{Short description|Helicopter Crash}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name = 1963 Poonch IAF helicopter crash
| image = File:Z395 Aerospatiale Alouette III Indian Air Force (8448378722).jpg
| image_upright = 1.1
| alt =
| caption = An IAF Alouette III helicopter similar to the one involved
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date = {{start date|df=yes|1963|11|22}}
| summary = [[Loss of control (aeronautics)|Loss of control]] due to collision with telegraph cables
| site = [[Poonch district, India]]
| coordinates =
| aircraft_type = [[Aérospatiale Alouette III]]
| aircraft_name =
| operator = [[Indian Air Force]]
| tail_number =
| origin =
| destination =
| occupants = 6
| passengers = 5
| crew = 1
| fatalities = 6
| survivors = 0
}}
On Friday, 22 November 1963,<ref>[https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=1963&country=35 Calendar for Year 1963 (India)]</ref> an [[Aérospatiale Alouette III]] helicopter of the [[Indian Air Force]] crashed in [[Poonch district, India|Poonch district]] of Indian-administered [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] in the [[Kashmir#Dispute|disputed]] [[Kashmir]] region. The aircraft was en route to [[Poonch (town)|Poonch town]], killing all six people on board. Six [[Indian Armed Forces]] officers were on board, including three [[general officers]], an [[air officer]] and a [[brigadier]].

Among those killed in the crash were [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Daulet Singh]], [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Bikram Singh (general, born 1911)|Bikram Singh]] and [[Air Vice Marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] [[Erlic Pinto]] and the pilot [[Flight Lieutenant]] S. S. Sodhi.

==Background==
The electricity and water supply to the town of Poonch came through a channel from Betar Nullah. In October 1963, the [[headworks]] of the channel was blown by [[Pakistan]] since it was located in [[Pakistani-Administered Kashmir]]. A new water-head was constructed by the engineers of the [[Indian Army]]. By 21 November 1963, the water and electricity supply to Poonch were restored. A tour was planned to inspect the new water-head.{{fact|date=August 2025}}

==Flight==
The [[General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Command|GOC-in-C Western Command]] [[Lieutenant general (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Daulet Singh]] and the [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command|AOC-in-C Western Air Command]] [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] [[Erlic Pinto]] were to inspect the new [[headwater]]. They arrived at Poonch from [[New Delhi]] in a [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Dakota]] aircraft at 1025 hours, where they were met by the Commander 93 Brigade, [[Brigadier (India)|Brigadier]] S. R. Oberoi, [[Military Cross|MC]]. The GOC [[XV Corps (India)|XV Corps]] Lieutenant General Bikram Singh and [[Air Officer Commanding]] Jammu & Kashmir [[Air Commodore]] Murat Singh had already arrived at Poonch from [[Udhampur]] at 0940 hours. Around the same time, the GOC 25 Division arrived in the [[Alouette III]] piloted by Flight Lieutenant S. S. Sodhi. Another Alouette also reached around 1055 hours.<ref name="Flight">{{cite web |title=GOVERNMENT MOURN LOSS OF SERVICE OFFICERS |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-24_166.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=24 November 1963}}</ref>

An inspection of two [[Outpost (military)|outposts]] around Poonch was also planned, which had been recced already by Sodhi. The first outpost was small and dusty, as reported by Sodhi and two helicopters would not be able to land. Thus, Pinto decided that the second helicopter would proceed to the second outpost with Murat Singh and await the arrival of the officers. The others trooped into the first helicopter and proceeded towards the first outpost. The helicopter landed and the inspection got underway.<ref name="LS debates - 1963">{{cite web |title=LOK SABHA DEBATES - SIXTH SESSION (THIRD LOK SABHA) |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/2997/1/lsd_03_06_27-11-1963.pdf |website=eparlib.nic.in |date=27 November 1963}}</ref>

After the completion of the inspection, the party took off for the second outpost which was 15 miles away. Sodhi took the route along the [[Poonch River]]. Three minutes after getting airborne, the Alouette collided with two parallel line of telegraph cables. The cables ran between two poles - one on a cliff at a height of 300 feet and the other on the opposite bank of the river at a height of 100 feet. The helicopter struck the cables at a height of around 200 feet. Sodhi lost control and the helicopter crashed into the river bed, about 400 yards away.<ref name="Flight" /> The crash spot was 2.5 miles from the [[Line of Control|Cease fire line]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite web |last1=Brady |first1=Thomas F. |date=1963-11-23 |title=5 INDIAN GENERALS DIE IN AIR CRASH; Their Copter in Kashmir Is Said to Have Hit Wire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/11/23/archives/5-indian-generals-die-in-air-crash-their-copter-in-kashmir-is-said.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
The news of the air crash - it was also the same day as the [[Assassination of John F. Kennedy|assassination of President]] [[John F. Kennedy]] - came as a shock to the nation. A black-bordered extraordinary [[Gazette of India]] was issued on 23 November.<ref name="Extraordinary Gazette">{{cite web |title=Extraordinary |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-28_183.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=23 November 1963}}</ref> The issue was raised in both houses of [[Parliament of India]] and addressed by the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]] [[Yashwantrao Chavan]]. The [[Rajya Sabha]] observed one minute's silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased and adjourned for the day.<ref name="RS debates - 1963">{{cite web |title=RAJYA SABHA DEBATES - Crash near Poonch |url=https://rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/543446/1/PD_45_22111963_5_p903_p904_8.pdf |website=rsdebate.nic.in}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Defence (India)|Ministry of Defence]], the three service headquarters and all defence establishments in New Delhi were closed on 23 November as a mark of respect. All public events of the Defence Minister and Service Chiefs were also cancelled.<ref>{{cite web |title=PIB |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-23_158.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=23 November 1963}}</ref> The officers were laid to rest with full military honours.<ref>{{cite web |title=AVM PINTO LAID TO REST |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-23_155.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=23 November 1963}}</ref>

The [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]] [[Aspy Engineer]] constituted a committee of inquiry headed by the [[Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Deputy Chief of Air Staff]] Air Vice Marshal [[Ramaswamy Rajaram]] with officers from the Army, Air Force and [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] as members.<ref name="LS debates - 1963" /> Daulet Singh, Bikram Singh and Pinto were awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] posthumously on 26 January 1964.<ref name="PVSM">{{cite web |title=PRESS NOTE |url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1964-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1964-01-25_074.pdf |website=archive.pib.gov.in |date=25 January 1964}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FORTY ONE AWARDS FOR AIR FORCE PERSONNEL |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1964-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1964-01-24_064.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=24 January 1964}}</ref>

==Memorials==
[[File:Bust of Lt Gen Daulat Singh, Shimla 02.jpg|thumb|right|Bust of Lt Gen Daulet Singh in the park named for him in Shimla.]]
In 1980, a memorial was constructed in Poonch called the ''Generals' memorial'' which paid tribute to the victims. The memorial was constructed by 10th Brigade and all the units of 25th Infantry Division, the formation commanded by Major General N. K. D. Nanavati at the time of the crash.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |date=2014-11-22 |title=Army pays homage at Generals' memorial |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/army-pays-homage-generals-memorial/ |website=Daily Excelsior}}</ref> A wreath-laying ceremony takes place every year at the memorial by units of the Indian Army on the anniversary of the crash.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Jammu & Kashmir |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131123/j&k.htm |website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - JAMMU TRIBUNE |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121123/jmtrib.htm |website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> A monument has been built at the site of the air crash, commemorating the names of the victims.{{sfn|Vaz|1997}} An ''Akhand Path'' is also organised by the people of Poonch and surrounding villages, as a mark of their love and affection towards the departed souls, every year to commemorate the tragic accident.<ref name="Business Standard">{{cite web |title=Indian army remembers 1963 Poonch crash victims |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/indian-army-remembers-1963-poonch-crash-victims-113112201006_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=22 November 2013}}</ref>

Apart from these, the ''Daulat Singh Park'' in [[Shimla]], named for Lieutenant General Daulet Singh, has a [[Bust (sculpture)|bust]] of the general.<ref name="Lt Gen Daulet Singh">{{cite web |last1=Joshi |first1=Shriniwas |date=2013-07-13 |title=General who called a spade a spade |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachaltribune/general-who-called-a-spade-a-spade-801496 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref> A statue of Lieutenant General Bikram Singh is installed in [[Jammu]] and a memorial in his ancestral village of Siana in [[Nawanshahr]]. A library and a museum dedicated to the general is also being constructed. The ''Bikram Chowk'' in Jammu is also named for the general. Two committees – the ''Lieutenant General Bikram Singh Society'' at Kahma village and the ''Lieutenant General Bikram Singh Yadgaar Committee'' in Jammu organise ceremonies, akhand paths, blood donation camps among other events to remember him.<ref name="Lt Gen Bikram Singh">{{cite web |last1=Service |first1=Tribune News |title=Lt Gen Bikram Singh's ancestral village gets statue, memorial and library |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/lt-gen-bikram-singhs-ancestral-village-gets-statue-memorial-and-library-211686 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en |access-date=2021-06-10 |archive-date=2023-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113142331/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/lt-gen-bikram-singhs-ancestral-village-gets-statue-memorial-and-library-211686 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation|first1=J Clement|last1=Vaz|title=Profiles of Eminent Goans: Past and Present|year=1997|isbn=978-8170226192|publisher=Concept Publishing Co}}
*{{citation|first1=Somnath|last1=Sapru|title=Combat Lore: Indian Air Force 1930-1945|year=2014|isbn=978-9383649259|publisher=K W Publishers Pvt Ltd}}

{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1963}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in India}}

{{coord missing|Jammu and Kashmir}}

[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1963]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving military helicopters]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in India]]
[[Category:November 1963 in Asia]]
[[Category:1963 in India]]
[[Category:Transport in Poonch District, India]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Aérospatiale Alouette]]

1963 Poonch Indian Air Force helicopter crash - Revision history

Kartikeyar at 14:44, 14 March 2026