**Jajpur/Ganjam:** With no trace of the missing AN-32 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) since Friday (July 22) morning, the kin of the two Odia boys also among the 29 people missing, mostly defence personnel, are in extreme state of grief and desperate to get back their two sons soon safe and sound.
The aircraft went missing on its way from Chennai to Port Blair on Friday morning soon after it took off.
While one has been identified as Purna Chandra Senapati of Rangaranga village under Panikoili Police Station of Jajpur district, another is Charana Maharana of Sukunda village under Kukudakhandi block of Ganjam district of Odisha.
Two Navy officials from Vishakhapatnam regiment Rabindranath Pradhan and Purnachandra’s colleague Jagatnath Giri (Jagatnath had initially informed the family about the missing) on Tuesday came to Rangaranga village to console the family and told them that the concerted search operation is on and very soon all will be rescued.
Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak had also on Tuesday been to the village, consoled the family and wished Purnachandra’s safe return.
Villagers are lighting lamp before the presiding deity of the village praying for Purnachandra’s long life and safe return.
Purnachandra joined Indian Navy as a technician in 2014 and is a bachelor. Among the three sons in the family, he is the eldest son. He has also one younger sister.
He is son of late Suryamani Senapati and mother Ujjali Senapati (aged over 50).
His widow mother has sobbingly appealed the government to get back her son safe and sound anyhow.
Another Odia boy Charana Maharana is the youngest son of his parents, Sudam Maharana (father) and Bishnu Maharana (mother) and joined Indian Navy also as a technician in 2014.
Maharana had last visited his village on July 6 to attend a family get-together.
“He is the sole support of his parents looking after all our well-beings. Get my son back safe and sound at any cost soon,” entreated Charana’s inconsolable mother.
Charana’s elder sister Sasmita appealed the government to get back all the 29 missing brothers safe and sound.
“I’m married and away at my in-laws and also my elder brother is far away for earning bread and butter, but Charana is not only my younger brother, but also like a son and looks after all the well-beings of our parents all alone now. He had assured to get the construction of the house soon after returning from Port Blair,” lamented Sasmita.
