The “world has come crashing down” for the family of Rana Pratap Das.

Rana Pratap, a junior warrant officer from Krushna Chandrapur village in Odisha’s coal-rich Talcher belt, was among those who died when a chopper carrying General Bipin Rawat crashed in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor on Wednesday.

Rana Pratap’s 68-year-old father Srivastha Das, who retired as the head clerk of a college, has heart ailments. His mother suffers from dementia.

Rana Pratap’s elder sister Sushree, who rushed to Krushna Chandrapur with her husband, said: “My world came crashing dowm when I got to know about the death of my only brother. We are passing through a tough time. I had spoken to Rana only four days ago. He had promised to come to the village on a two-month leave in January. Only a month was left for his arrival. The last time he visited us was during Durga Puja. We had a nice get-together.”

Sushree was inconsolable as she spoke to this correspondent over phone. “I will not see my brother anymore. He was just a year younger than me. I can’t tell you how I feel about the loss,” she said.

Her husband Atanu Patnaik, a medical practitioner, said: “We got the news of his death at 3.45pm on Wednesday from Subhangi, Rana’s wife. She asked us not to disclose this to his parents as Rana’s father is a heart patient.”

Patnaik, along with Sushree, reached Krushna Chandrapur at noon on Thursday. “Sushree could not muster the courage to tell her parents about her brother’s death. Though my father-in-law became suspicious, he was almost certain that nothing had happened to his son. Even on Wednesday he had called Subhangi to know about his son after the news of the helicopter crash was aired on news channels. However, Subhangi had managed to hide the news saying her husband was on other flight and nothing had happened to him,” said Patnaik.

He added: “When I broke the news, my father-in-law was stunned for a few moments. Then he broke down. Since my mother-in-law is suffering from dementia, she could not realise what had happened.”

Family sources said Subhangi, a dentist, would reach Krushnachandrapur village on Thursday night. “Perhaps, the mortal remains of Rana will reach here on Sunday or Monday,” Patnaik said.