Malayali soldier Thomas Cherian laid to rest in Pathanamthitta 56 years after death

Pathanamthitta: The burial of Odalil Puthenvettil Thomas Cherian, a native of Elathoor East who died in a plane crash over the Rohtang Pass in 1968, was held here at the Karur St Peter's Orthodox Church on Friday. Earlier on the day, the soldier's mortal remains were brought to the residence of Shaiju K Mathew, son of Cherian’s elder brother, Thomas Mathew. 
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The military officials escorted the remains from Elanthur Market junction at 10.30 am. At 12.15 pm, Kuriakose Mar Clemis Metropolitan performed the third order of the funeral service.
The funeral procession to St Peter's Orthodox Church, Karur, began at 12.40 pm. The body was kept for public viewing between 1 and 2 pm. The final service began at 2 pm and was officiated by Dr Abraham Mar Seraphim Metropolitan. The body was finally laid to rest with full military honours in a specially prepared burial chamber.
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Elaborate parking arrangements were made for those attending the funeral at the grounds near Karur School. Only vehicles of Metropolitans, government officials, ministers, and media personnel were allowed to park on the church premises.
Only special guests, family members, and priests were allowed inside the church, while others could view the service via facilities arranged in the church auditorium and the adjacent pandal.

Thomas Cherian, a 22-year-old craftsman in the Indian Army, lost his life when an Indian Air Force Antonov-12 aircraft crashed over the Rohtang Pass. The twin-engine turboprop, carrying 102 people, went missing on February 7, 1968, during a flight from Chandigarh to Leh. Cherian’s remains, along with those of three others, were recovered earlier this week during a joint operation by the Dogra Scouts and Tiranga Mountain Rescue team.