Scary Air Journey by Dornier: December 1971

Down memory lane ,I can clearly recall a most harrowing and scary air  journey in December 1971 n a  small 12 -15 seater Dornier aircraft from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer .Shri Shantanu Kumar District SP and myself as DM Barmer were  attending a review meeting at Jodhpur in the aftermath of 1971 Indo-Pak War when we were  summoned to reach  post haste Jaisalmer where  Shri R.N .Mirdha then Union  Minister of State for Home was waiting  to discuss problems  of  rehabilitation of Pak refugees who had  fled   to Barmer and  Jaisalmer  leaving their home and hearth.

Nearly forty  thousand Pak refugees, mostly Meghwals and  Rajputs had  trickled through the border into Barmer rural  areas. Similarly, nearly 12-15 thousand  men, women  and children  had traveled with bag and baggage including camels and charpoy in manyfamiles.Stuppendous problems and challenges were faced in settling them even  temporarily.

I had no  flying experience by that time  as the chance would have it.

Nearly half of journey  already  covered, we had  once a life time experience of facing jaws of death.  

The left side sliding half window 4-5  in height and 3- 4 wide sideways was thrown open by the winds up in the sky .

Co-pilot and attendant only  two available personnel were struggling rather fighting to pull back the half large window in order to fix it in its original frame . A tug of war ,so to say between  the speedy wind and man power ensued.Fortunately for us,the  window  was fixed in its original place within  minutes  thus preventing  air crash and saving  our lives .

After reaching  Jaisalmer we were felicitated and congratulated  by Sri RN Mirdha,Union Minister who  discussed  refugee relief and rehabilitation problems at length. 

We didn't  inform  our officers and families back home  to prevent  further tension already  being faced by them in post war conditions. 

Next day, we left  Jaisalmer   by jeep for Barmer.   Shantanu was  Dist

SP Jaisamer before his posting at Barmer and was  at driving seat as usual in his familiar terrain.His personal  hunter's gun was lying at the back.His shikari mood  prompted  him to suggest shooting a duck or two in the the few and far  between tanks.He requested me to pick up the dead sand grouse .But having shot the duck he waded into water himself  to collect his shoot.

That evening at Barmer we celebrated our escape from death by Thanksgiving to God with a fireside dinner.