Indian Army Discovers Remains of Soldiers from 1968 AN-12 Crash in Himachal Pradesh

An Indian Army expedition has recovered the remains of four soldiers from the wreckage of an AN-12 aircraft that crashed in Lahaul valley, Himachal Pradesh in 1968. This recovery, part of an ongoing effort to honor the fallen, marks a significant milestone in the decades-long search.

In a key development, the Indian Army has recovered the remains of four soldiers from the wreckage of an AN-12 aircraft that crashed in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul valley in 1968. The tragic incident involved an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft carrying 102 Army personnel from Chandigarh to Leh.

Lahaul-Spiti district's Superintendent of Police, Mayank Chaudhary, confirmed the discovery to ANI. The Army expedition team relayed the information via satellite phone while conducting a mountaineering operation near CB-13 (Chandrabhaga-13 Peak). The remains are believed to be from the 1968 IAF crash.

The discovery is the result of extensive efforts to recover those who perished in one of India's most tragic military aviation accidents. Ongoing search operations had previously uncovered debris and a soldier's body in 2018. The recent find marks a critical step in honoring the fallen soldiers and bringing closure to affected families. Efforts to locate additional remains will continue.

(With inputs from agencies.)