Wn Cdr TNB Singh – A brave son of Hyderabad

He lost his life saving hundreds others on ground in a helicopter crash

Hyderabad, July 31 (INN): A young and brave air warrior, Wing Commander Thakur Narsing Bhagat Singh, lost his life while trying to save the lives of hundreds on ground, in a helicopter crash near Ataria in Sitapur district about 70 km from Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh on 25th July, 2014, at around 4:57 pm. He was the pilot in Command of the ill fated an advance light helicopter ‘Dhruv’, carrying two officers (including himself) and five other IAF personnel.

As news of the crash spread, a pall of gloom spread in the helicopter unit which he was commanding in Bareilly as well as in Hyderabad, where he was born and had spent much of his childhood. The final rites were performed with full Military Honour at Air Force Bareilly, rich tributes were paid by the Chief of Air Staff, Vice Chief of Air Staff, AOC-in-C Central Air Command, Central Minister Shri Santosh Gangwar and several UP State Ministers. Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Akhilesh Yadav has immediately announced Rs. ten lakh and State Bank also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. five lakh to each of the bereaved families.

TNB, as he was fondly known, was born to Shri TD Singh on 27th January, 1974 and brought up in BHEL Colony in Ramchandrapuram in Hyderabad. A bright and energetic student, TNB excelled in class as well as in extracurricular activities from the very beginning. After completing his class XII from BHEL Higher Secondary School near Hyderabad, he joined the prestigious National Defence Academy located at Khadakwasla near Pune. Always looking up to the sky for inspiration, he had chosen to join the Air Force and was commissioned into the helicopter stream on 16th December, 1995.

As part of his assignments in the Air Force in his younger days, he was posted to frontline helicopter units along the Indo-Tibet border in Sikkim. This is where he met his soul mate Flying Officer Jaya Rawat who was posted to a nearby Air Force Station. They got married shortly thereafter. They were posted together to a helicopter station near Saharanpur next, where they were blessed with a daughter Shanaya in 2005.

On the professional front, TNB continued to excel and quickly built up a reputation for himself of being a bright, dedicated and truly gifted helicopter pilot. In late 2005, he completed his Flying Instructor’s course and was now teaching rookie pilots the skills to become true professionals in the air. His bonding with his most loved city of Hyderabad was further strengthened when he got posted to Air Force Station Hakimpet in June 2008 as a flying instructor. His further assignments included tenure as a Flight Commander in a frontline helicopter unit flying the state of the art Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv and as an Air Force flying examiner based near Delhi. In December 2013, he was specifically selected to command an ALH unit based at Bareilly. As a Commanding Officer (CO), he always endeavoured to bring out the best in his subordinates by motivating them and by leading from the front, like a true military leader.

A true and brave soldier Wing Commander TN Bhagat Singh was actively involved in many important Air Force Operations. Notable are Kargil, Search operations of Late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. Y S Rajshekhar Reddy (he was the first who spotted the ill fated helicopter of the CM). Operation Rahat at Uttarakhand and Flood Relief Operations in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh etc.

A cheerful and warm hearted individual, TNB was instantly liked by one and all. He was an avid fan of cricket and excelled in basketball. He also liked reading. He was the champion of numerous casualty evacuations from the Himalayan ranges and was instrumental in saving many lives. His dedication towards his profession will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.