Akhilesh Kumar Singh, VM

Biography

Junior Warrant Officer Akhilesh Kumar Singh hailed from Amethi district in Uttar Pradesh. He was recruited into the Indian Air Force as an airman and got trained in the technical stream. He later got trained as a Flight Engineer and got posted to a front-line helicopter squadron. During 2013, JWO Akhilesh Kumar Singh was functioning as a Flight Engineer in 157 HU, operating Mi-17 helicopters. Mi-17 Helicopter Crash: 25 June 2013. On 25 June 2013, JWO Akhilesh Kumar Singh along with the captain and Crew of the Mi-17 helicopter was tasked to move essential supplies and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams to Kedarnath, located at an elevation of over 11000 feet and rescue stranded pilgrims from Kedarnath during the return sorties. Inclement weather, frequently drifting clouds and poor light conditions prevalent in the unforgiving terrain of the narrow valley led to frequent delays in the operations and this made their task extremely demanding. Realizing the gravity of their task and the criticality of the evacuation of some of the stranded pilgrims, JWO Akhilesh Kumar Singh and his crew volunteered for the critical mission and got airborne in the first available window of opportunity to position his helicopter at Guptakashi. During the return leg from Kedarnath to Guptakashi, the aircraft impacted on the steep slopes of the valley and crashed. The weather was so bad at that time that it took a long time for rescue teams to reach the crash site. On that day the helicopter carried out three sorties which were undertaken under deteriorating weather conditions. During these three sorties, they successfully saved 80 precious lives. For this act of conspicuous courage, professional competence and successful execution of a risky mission to save precious lives in hostile weather conditions. Besides JWO Akhilesh Kumar Singh, the other martyred brave hearts during the operation included Wg Cdr Darryl Castelino, Flt Lt K Praveen, Flt Lt Tapan Kapoor, and Sgt Sudhakar Yadav. JWO Akhilesh Kumar Singh was posthumously awarded the "Vayu Sena Medal". JWO Akhilesh Kumar Singh, who laid down his life for his country during the Uttarakhand flood relief operations, was a dedicated professional and committed air warrior. The nation will ever remain grateful for his selfless service and supreme sacrifice.