A junior warrant officer of the Indian Air Force, a native of Hosanagara in Shivamogga district, died after his parachute failed to open during a training session at the Paratrooper Training School in Agra of Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
G.S. Manjunath, 36, was among the 12 officers participating in the training. He went missing, while the 11 others landed safely in the dropping zone. Manjunath was later found dead in a field nearby. His parachute did not open, causing his death, it is learnt from family members.
Manjunath was a native of Sankur in Jeni Hobli of Hosanagara taluk. He is survived by his wife Kalptha Sakia, a native of Assam, parents G.M. Suresh and Nagarathna, a brother, and two sisters. He joined the IAF in December 2005. He served in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and various other places.
The IAF officials informed his family about the incident on Friday. The mortal remains of Manjunath are expected to reach the village by Sunday morning. Shivamogga Lok Sabha member B.Y. Raghavendra has mourned the death of Manjunath.
The Hosanagara taluk administration is making preparations to keep the mortal remains of Manjunath at the stadium in the town on Sunday for the public to pay homage.
