He was a role model for many young minds of his school and a good friend of all his ‘Prahari’ friends. His poster, standing beside a fighter aircraft, hangs in the hall of fame of South Point School, reminding every student that this should be the ultimate goal of everyone. With this dream, Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar left everyone and maneuvered to another world on Thursday. Purvesh, 27, died when an Indian Air Force Sukhoi 30MKI fighter jet crashed in a remote hill area of Assam’s Karbi Anglong district during a routine training mission, killing both pilots on board. “Purvesh was always soft spoken and he was in contact with us even after his commissioning in IAF. He was an average student till Class 8 but in Class 9, he got the goal of his life.

 

 

 

He wanted to be a fighter pilot and after Class 9 he never turned back and cleared all exams in first attempt,” Mrunal Dasture, Principal, The South Public School told The Hitavada. “When he was commissioned, he visited the school. Around three years ago, we invited him as the chief guest for our Independence Day function as part of our tradition of inviting alumni,” said Dasture. Flight Lieutenant Shivali Deshpande (Retd), Secretary of Prahar Samaj Jagurti Sanstha and Director of Prahar Defence Academy, said, “Purvesh was a extremely dedicated and determined towards his goal. He was soft spoken and he believed one principle—live your life to the fullest.” As a Prahari, Purvesh always liked to guide young ones and his friends in the Academy.

 

The day of his commissioning in Indian Air Force in 2022 was the happiest day in his life and his interview was also published in The Hitavada, said Purvesh’s mentor Flt Lt Deshpande. The news of his death reached his family in Nagpur late on Wednesday, leaving relatives and well-wishers in deep shock and grief. A resident of Mahalaxmi Nagar in South West Nagpur, Purvesh completed his BSc. in Computer Science from Dr Ambedkar College. During his school years he had scored 88 per cent in Class 10 and 70 per cent in Class 12. He had represented Maharashtra in six national NCC camps and also represented the Maharashtra Directorate in aero-modelling competitions. He later trained at the Defence Services Academy (DSA), Shahapur in Bhandara near Nagpur. His father, Ravindra Duragkar, is a transport inspector in Central Railway and his mother, Sandhya Duragkar, is a home maker. His sister is settled in United States of America.

 

As per the information received, the rescue teams later located the wreckage of the fighter jet and recovered the bodies of the two pilots, Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar. In a statement, the Indian Air Force confirmed the deaths. “IAF acknowledges the loss of Sqn Ldr Anuj and Flt Lt Purvesh Duragkar, who sustained fatal injuries in the Su-30 crash. All personnel of the IAF express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief,” the statement said. As per the family members, the mortal remains are likely to arrive city on Saturday morning. 

 

 

Ravindra Duragkar could only recall memories of his son, Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, the most vivid being their phone chat on Wednesday and his visit home ten days ago for a family get-together. “We had spoken on Wednesday. His Group Captain got in touch with us and informed us about the accident,” said Ravindra, his eyes welling up. His 28-year-old son had taken part in Operation Sindoor. Ravindra said Purvesh was originally posted in Tezpur, Assam, but was operating from Jorhat as work was being carried out on the Tezpur runway. A neighbour told PTI that Purvesh is survived by his parents and a sister settled in the US. Purvesh and his sister, an IITian, had come home ten days ago for a family get-together, the neighbour said. Ravindra also recalled the family function. “My son was extremely proud to be part of the Indian Air Force. He would sometimes share his experience of flying fighter planes and the speeds that IAF jets achieve. He held his colleagues in high regard,” he said. (PTI)