The death of Harish Krishnan in the helicopter crash in Goa is a great loss personally as he was a gem of a person in character and very bright academically, said Sujith Chandran of Kottayi, one of Harish’s colleagues and a close friend.
“He had come for my engagement and marriage at Kottayi in Palakkad. We both were among the 176 youths recruited to the Navy on January 31, 1998, after our Plus Two examinations. We did our training at Chilka in Orissa, at INS Lonavala in Pune and at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technicians in Kochi. Till 2005, we were together, and later he was posted in Mumbai and I was sent to Goa. However, we used to call each other daily, said Sujith, who is at present the chief aircraft artificer (CHAA) in the Navy in Goa.
Harish had called me from Mumbai before leaving and said he would reach Goa by 10 am. Unfortunately, the mishap devoured him, he said.
“It is the top 20 from the 176 trainees who get selected for the aircraft maintenance course. The others branch out to disciplines like ship technology, engine room artificers and electrical and radio. Harish was the topper among the 176 trainees academically. He had specialised in Chetak helicopter engines and myself in Sea King helicopter engines,” Sujith Chandran told Express.
“Our 15-year bond with the Navy was to expire on January 31, 2013, and we had decided to pursue other occupations owing to the situation at our homes. Harish preferred to engage himself in agriculture. He, along with his wife Nisha and eight-month-old Nikhitha, used to visit our house frequently.
Personally, his death is a huge loss for me. Our colleagues will also miss him as he was the brightest among us. He also excelled in extra-curricular activities,” said Sujith. Harish was awarded the BSc aeronautics degree under a tie-up with the Navy and Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), and his current post was chief aircraft artificer. The job involved certifying helicopters as flight worthy.
The body of Harish will be brought in a naval aircraft around 10.30 am at naval station Garuda in Kochi on Tuesday. The body will be taken to Harippad accompanied by a navy team. The last rites will be performed with full military honours, said an official release.
