Cherian’s remains to arrive in Chandigarh on Wednesday

Kottayam: The mortal remains of Thomas Cherian, one of the passengers of the ill-fated IAF aircraft that crashed near the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh in 1968, will be brought to Chandigarh on Wednesday, as per the information received by Cherian's relatives in Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta.Cherian's body was one of three intact bodies found in the snow-covered mountains in one of the country's longest-running search and recovery operations.Cherian's relatives were earlier informed that the mortal remains would be brought to Chandigarh on Tuesday and, without much delay, would be flown to Kerala."We were informed that the delay is due to bad weather. Snowfall intensified on Tuesday, and the remains have to be carried through the snow for about six hours to reach the nearest location where a chopper can land. Therefore, transportation to Chandigarh is expected only tomorrow," said Shaiju, Cherian's nephew.Thomas Thomas, the younger brother of Thomas Cherian, said that the entire Odalil family is awaiting updates from the Army. "We've been receiving calls from relatives around the world, and many are visiting us," he said. The family is now waiting to receive the remains so they can hold the funeral and lay him to rest in the family vault at St Peter's Orthodox Church, Karoor.
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