Aurangabad: A pall of gloom descended on Manika village in Aurangabad district on Tuesday as the body of Dr Vikas Kumar Gupta, who was killed in an air ambulance crash in Jharkhand, reached his ancestral home. Villagers gathered in large numbers to pay their last respects amid scenes of grief in the village.Dr Gupta, son of Bajrangi Prasad and a resident of Manika Bazar under Madanpur block, lost his life on Monday evening when a chartered air ambulance crashed near Chatra in Jharkhand. The aircraft was on way from Ranchi to Delhi carrying a patient, Sanjay Kumar. All seven persons on board, including the patient, died in the accident.Dr Gupta’s wife Meena Kumari and his mother Aarti Devi accompanied the body to Aurangabad. His father was left deeply traumatised by the sudden loss of his elder son. The last rites were performed at the village cremation ground, where the doctor’s eight-year-old son, Muhul Kumar Gupta, lit the funeral pyre — an image that left many in tears.Family members described Dr Gupta as calm, soft-spoken and service-oriented. His younger brother Subhash Gupta said he had last visited the village during the Chhath festival, spending time with the family before returning to Ranchi. Dr Gupta had been serving at Ranchi Sadar Hospital for the past three years.During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Gupta was recognised for his dedicated medical service and was honoured by the Prime Minister, a source of pride for his family and village. He was married in 2016 in Patna and is survived by his wife, who works with the State Bank of India in Ranchi, and their young son.Villager Suraj Prasad Gupta said Dr Gupta was a source of pride for Manika. “Whenever he came home during festivals, he interacted warmly with everyone, especially children, and spoke about the development of the village and society,” he said.
