This story was handed over to me by the photographer himself after he returned to Bhopal from bone chilling experience of witnessing the worst ever helicopter crash in the history of Switzerland. Sanjay Jain who runs the Central Colour lab in Bhopal and with whom I was associated with to process my official film and make prints during my stint with Hindustan Times, spoke to me as to how he gave his own death a slip by five minutes.A chance tragedy got an amateur City photographer a picture of his lifetime – some-thing even professional would trade their right hands for.
The rare accident had two helicopters crashing into each other in mid-air at Nandez Valley in Switzerland. Seven Indians and a Swiss national were killed. It was the first and the worst crash witnesses in the history of Switzerland aviation.
And Sanjay Jain, proprietor of Central Colour Lab, who recorded the incident for posterity, had taken a sortie in one of the choppers just minutes before they collided.
He says the sorties started with one chopper. Another was added mid-way to facilitate the first to go on another assignment. After a few rounds, the second chopper asked for reinforcement as there were many people waiting for their rides.
As the third one approached for landing, it crashed into the second chopper, which had taken off from the spot. The choppers collided 15 to 20 meters above the ground and 150 meters away from Sanjay’s lens.
Sanjay says just the prospect of framing both the approaching choppers prompted him to click the photo. Little did he realize that split seconds later they would crash into each other?
Himself a versatile photographer, Sanjay from his childhood had a knack of appreciating good images.
His own sortie had just taken five minutes. And Sanjay sys “I enjoyed every second of it.” Air Glaciers – a private Swiss company ran the helicopters.
As for his trip to Switzerland, Sanjay says it was organized by the Kodak Company to felicitate the buyers of photographic materials and sellers of cameras and films in the country.
They were first taken to Germany to take part in the world’s biggest photographic event called Photokina – the world’s best photographic technology exhibition.
The groups of Kodak representatives, on their way back, to India were taken to Switzerland, for a two day lay-off after their hectic schedule.
Sanjay adds contrary to what he had heard of efficiency in the West, the rescue operation at the accident site were woefully lacking. The sorties themselves were from a local football ground. There were no precautionary measures in attendance – no ambulance or fire tenders.
Besides the place was very far from Sion- the main city. Sanjay and the others there took the bodies out of the choppers, since the rescue team reached 40 minutes late. To top it all, the Swiss doctors who came after hour displayed what could be called reluctance to examine the bodies.
Meanwhile, three other Indians who were injured are recovering in Switzerland.
As for Sanjay he says he is game for more such rides, any day.
