Lt Col JMPD Cunha

Lt Col JMPD Cunha was born on 18 July 1966. He hailed originally from Mangalore, though his family later settled in Sector 14, Faridabad in Haryana. He was the son of Shri Jerald D'Cunha and Smt. Flavy D'Cunha, and grew up alongside his elder sister, Preethi, and younger brother, Praneesh, in a close-knit family environment. He completed his early schooling at St. Joseph’s Convent School, Faridabad, and went on to pursue his higher secondary education at St. Xavier’s College, New Delhi. Thereafter, he graduated with a degree in Arts from Hansraj College, University of Delhi. Driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to serve the nation, he appeared for the Combined Defence Services Examination and successfully secured selection into the Indian Army. He subsequently joined the prestigious Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, where he underwent rigorous military training. After successfully completing his training, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in 1990 into the 193 Field Regiment of the Regiment of Artillery—the combat support arm of the Indian Army, known for its expertise in operating guns, howitzers, surveillance systems, and other advanced weaponry.

In the course of his career, Lt Col Cunha transitioned to the Army Aviation Corps, where he trained as a helicopter pilot. With dedication and professional excellence, he soon established himself as a highly skilled and accomplished aviator. His expertise and experience led him to serve as an instructor, where he played a crucial role in training and mentoring young pilots. On the personal front, Lt Col Cunha married Ms. Nicole, and the couple was blessed with a son, Kevin. He balanced his professional commitments with his responsibilities as a devoted family man, earning respect both as a soldier and as an individual.

Cheetah Recce Mission : 24th May 2007

During 2007, Lt Col JMPD Cunha was serving with the 661 Army Aviation Squadron of the Army Aviation Corps. The squadron was operating the Cheetah (SA-315) helicopter, a high-performance light utility helicopter known for its exceptional capability to operate in extreme conditions, including high altitudes and challenging terrains. The Cheetah helicopter was widely employed as a versatile, multi-role platform, regularly undertaking reconnaissance, liaison, casualty evacuation, and logistics support missions. As part of his operational duties, Lt Col Cunha was assigned to undertake one such mission on 24 May 2007, along with his co-pilot, Maj Puneet Karol. The task involved a reconnaissance sortie from Jalandhar to Karcham, located in the tribal district of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh—an area characterized by rugged mountainous terrain and ongoing hydroelectric development projects. On the morning of 24 May 2007, Lt Col Cunha and Maj Karol took off as planned in their Cheetah helicopter for the assigned mission. The Karcham region, with its narrow valleys and complex topography, also had multiple high-voltage transmission lines running across the mountains due to the hydroelectric projects in the area, making flying operations particularly demanding.

At approximately 10:50 AM, while flying over the Karcham area, the helicopter lost control and subsequently lost contact with Air Traffic Control. Faced with an emergency, the experienced crew made a determined attempt to carry out a safe landing at the helipad of the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL). However, during the approach, the helicopter’s rotor blades unfortunately got entangled in high-voltage power lines stretched between two rocky mountain ridges. The impact caused the helicopter to catch fire, leading to a catastrophic structural failure that separated the rotor from the fuselage. The helicopter then crashed onto a hillside and exploded. Despite their experience and efforts to avert the crisis, Lt Col Cunha and Maj Puneet Karol could not survive the crash and succumbed to their injuries. Their tragic loss marked the end of two distinguished careers dedicated to the service of the nation. Lt Col JMPD Cunha was a valiant soldier, an accomplished aviator, and a committed leader who upheld the highest standards of professionalism. His supreme sacrifice in the line of duty stands as a testament to his courage, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the nation.