8/6/2019 Indian Air Force My Story

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   The Farmer

And The Prime Minister

The Bihar Floods had cost tremendous loss of life (of people and cattle) andproperty. There was destruction all over Bihar barring few places higher inaltitude. The people were in panic mode. Army help was taken to evacuate thepeople to safer places. Some people, however, as you must be knowing did notleave their lands in spite of high water level. The reason was they were veryattached (emotionally) to their lands and could not be persuaded by the army tocome with them. The situation was getting worse day by day which was directlyproportional to the level of water. Even at relief camps there was a lack of basicfacilities like toilet and others. Food was also in short supply.It was declared asa national calamity. Now the onus fell more on the Central Government from theirresponsible Bihar Government.Therefore the Prime Minister,Mr.Manmohan Singh, came to pacify the people of 

Bihar to stay calm and to assess the situation and to announce the relief package. He had already announced a package of 86 crores rupees but it wasstill to be received. There was, anyway, not much respect for the primeminister’s word due to some other instances like that in the past. I need notelaborate on them. Politicians make promises during the crisis time only toforget it later.Mr. Manmohan Singh took off from New Delhi on a Indian Air Force helicopter to go towards Rohtas, a district in south western Bihar, not affected by theflood.

The action now shifted in the helicopter.They were over Kaimur District andwere approaching the destination when sone technical snag occurred.The pilottried to locate the fault but was not able to.Seeing the pilot’s face Singh asked“What happened Sriram(the pilot)?” Sriram replied”Sir , we have developed amajor technical fault and I am sorry if its sound blunt but have to say it-thecopter is about to crash.” Singh seemed completely unperturbed.He said “pilottake out the parachutes.” “Sir, this trip was announced so suddenly that I forgotto put up the parachutes,” replied the pilot.Singh’s face changed fromindifference to utmost horror like a lizard changes colour.

The helicopter crashed and with it went all the people inside it.It was almost a day after, in typical Indian style, that the army discovered thewreckage in the middle of a farm.The area was deserted except a lone farmer ploughing a field not too far away. They hurried over to the farmer’s side. ASenior Sergeant asked, panting and out of breath. "Did you see this terribleaccident happen?" "Yep. Sure did." The man muttered unconcernedly. "Do yourealize that is the Prime Minister’s Helicopter?” "Yep.""Were there any survivors?" the sergeant gasped. "Nope. They's all kilt straightout." The farmer sighed, looking at he sky. . "I done buried them all myself.

Took most of the morning." “What! The Prime Minister of India is dead?”Thesergeant gulped in disbelief. "Yep, he kept a-saying he wasn't ... but you know

what a liar he is!" said the farmer casually.