Proposal to build park in memory of crash victims

MANGALURU: A proposal to build a park in the memory of the victims of flight IX812, which crashed off Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) at Kenjar near here on May 22, 2010, was mooted at a meeting that was on chaired by deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim. The latest proposal is a slight modification of an earlier idea that proposed to build a memorial park in the premises of MIA. Taking note of the suggestion made by the attendees, the DC has agreed to set up the proposed park near Kuloor, instead of MIA. The site, which is in the custody of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) and is situated between the Gurupur River and National Highway 66 on the road leading to Tannirbhavi, was chosen as it is the burial place of 22 unidentified victims. Acceding to this suggestion, the DC said that the memorial park will come up in 44 cents of land and no permanent structure will be constructed there. Harinath, a representative of NMPT, suggested that the Dakshina Kannada district administration should take up the issue with the port authorities. The approval of Union ministry of shipping should also be obtained before the port could hand over the site in its possession for this purpose, he said. On May 22, 2010, flight IX812 Air India Express coming from Dubai to Mangaluru, overshot the runway after landing and fell in to the valley off the runway. The impact saw the aircraft catch fire, thus, killing 158 out of 166 passengers on board. Eight passengers on board had a miraculous escape. The authorities could identify only 136 of the 158 bodies and a decision was taken to bury the remaining unidentified bodies in the land belonging to NMPT. -TOI