At around 9 a.m. on Saturday, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar saw his mother's face on a video call and, in a hurry, said only this much — “I'm a little busy right now, I'll talk to you properly later.” His mother had no idea those few words would be the last she ever heard from her son. A few hours later, the news that arrived from Jorhat in Assam snatched away the happiness of Banwariya village in Jehanabad forever.
The AN-32 Crash in Jorhat and the Loss of 5 Personnel
When an AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed, Shubham Kumar and 4 other air force personnel — 5 in all — laid down their lives in the service of the nation. Shubham, who belonged to Banwariya village in Bihar's Jehanabad district, was martyred in the accident. June 13 has now become a day this village will never be able to forget.
A Mountain of Grief Falls on the Family
According to Shubham's younger brother Satyam, when the first word of the accident reached them, no one in the family could believe it. A little later, when the incident was confirmed over the phone, it felt as though a mountain of grief had crashed down on the entire household. As the news spread, a wave of mourning ran from Banwariya village across all of Jehanabad, and family members are inconsolable. A steady stream of people has been arriving at the martyr's home to offer their condolences.
An Air Force Officer Born of a Farming Family
Shubham came from an ordinary farming family. On the strength of his hard work and dedication, he earned a place as an officer in the Indian Air Force in the year 2021. The family says that, putting service to the country above all else, he had even declined to get married for the time being. For him, serving the motherland was always the first priority.
The Whole District Stands Proud of Its Brave Son
Warm-hearted and simple by nature, Shubham's sacrifice has filled the entire district with pride today. With moist eyes, the people of the village await a final glimpse of their brave son. An elderly villager said that Shubham brought honour to the whole region and that his sacrifice will always be remembered. We bow in deepest respect to this son of Jehanabad, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, who gave the supreme sacrifice in defence of the nation.
