Co-pilot Satish laid to rest at Brundavanapuram

Nalgonda, Sept 5 :

 The last rites of co-pilot M Satyanarayana Reddy alias Satish, killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday along with Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was cremated with full military honours at his native place in Brundavanapuram of Miryalguda in Nalgonda district on Saturday.

A pall of gloom descended on the village as news of the tragic death of Capt Reddy in the helicopter crash along with the Chief Minister and three others in Nallamala forest was flashed on the TV channels.

His uncle Amrutha Reddy said the family had decided to perform the last rites after the arrival of co-pilot’s brother Nani from USA. Nani along with elders collected the body from the military hospital in Trimulgerry and later shift it to Nalgonda in a separate vehicle.

Capt M S Reddy, who hailed from the small village in Tripuraram mandal in the district, rose to greater heights as a pilot and was popular in his native place as an affectionate and compassionate person.

Capt Reddy excelled in his studies and realised his childhood dream of becoming a pilot with determination. “He secured a seat in Korukonda Sainik School, entered into the prestigious National Defence Academy and achieved his goal,” recalled M Narsimha Reddy, a close relative of Capt. Reddy.

Capt Reddy donated funds for the Mutyalamma temple and remained a source of inspiration for the village youth.

The 45-year-old co-pilot had a rare distinction of flying for 3,005 hours. He took part in the military operations at the hazardous mountain terrain of Kargil while assisting Army men and supplying them with the all important weaponry.

After the Kargil victory, Mr Satish was posted as Lieutenant Colonel in Bathinda, Punjab and retired eight months ago. Soon after, Satish joined as a co-pilot with Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation Limited.

The co-pilot along with pilot group Captain S K Bhatia, Chief Minister, Special Secretary P Subramanyam and Chief Security Officer A S C Wesley, were charred to death when the Bell 430 chopper in which they were travelling crashed into a hillock in Kurnool district.

Satish, hailing from Nalgonda district, is survived by wife Kiranmayi, son Viraat and daughter Manosri.

Former Home Minister K Jana Reddy, MPs Gutta Sukender Reddy and Sarve Satyanarayana, BJP leaders Bandaru Dattatreya and G Kishan Reddy visited his house in D D Colony and consoled the family members.

Minister for Rural Water Supply P Vishwaroop and MLA K Venkatreddy paid last respects to the departed soul.