Memorial service for Mangaluru air crash victims held at '22/5 Park'

Mangaluru, May 22: The victims of the 2010 Mangaluru air crash were today remembered on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the tragedy with officials paying homage.

One of the country's worst aviation disasters, Air India Express flight 812 coming here from Dubai overshot the runway and crashed while landing at the international airport in the early hours of May 22, 2010 killing 158 passengers. There were 160 passengers and six crew members on board this ill-fated flight. Eight of them survived.

On Sunday the memorial function was held by the Dakshina Kannada district administration at the memorial park at Kurlur where the bodies of 12 unidentified victims of the crash have been buried. The park is being developed as a tribute to the victims of the incident. New Mangalore Port Trust is developing the park. District Minister in-charge B Ramanath Rai led the memorial service and offered floral tributes.

The Dakshina Kannada district administration has been holding a condolence meet every year to mark the anniversary of this crash. Until last year the memorial services were held at the crash spot. However, at the condolence meeting last year it was decided to hold the annual memorial service at the memorial park from this year.

22/5 Park

Speaking to media persons Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim said that although the district administration had urged the Airports Authority of India and Air India to set up a memorial at the park, they have not been forthcoming on this issue. The administration has requested Mangaluru City Corporation to set up the memorial, he said adding the civic body is expected to take a decision on this request shortly. An early memorial set up at the crash site at Kenjar was vandalized.

The park at Kuloor has been named '22/5 Park' to remember the month and date of the incident, the DC said, adding the administration has placed on record its gratitude to New Mangalore Port Trust authorities for its total support in constructing the park. "The work on the park will be completed in the next three months," Ibrahim said. The dozen bodies were interned at the park site after all attempts to identify them through string of tests proved inconclusive.