Jaipur: A cloud of grief has descended upon the home of Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan at Shastri Nagar in Jaipur, following his tragic death in the Kedarnath helicopter crash in Uttarakhand. What was meant to be a time of celebration — the birth of his twin sons after 14 years of marriage — has turned into an unimaginable tragedy for the Chauhan family.

Relatives, friends and neighbours have been arriving in large numbers to offer condolences, but the atmosphere remains steeped in shock and sorrow. The family is still grappling with the fact that Rajveer Singh, full of dreams and devotion, is no longer with them.

His father, Govind Singh Chauhan, recounted the moment he received the heart-wrenching news. “Rajveer’s colleague, Captain V K Singh, called me around 7.45 in the morning and told me about the helicopter accident,” he said.

He added, “Rajveer’s last words from the cockpit were, ‘I am taking a left turn for landing’. Moments later, the crash occurred.”

Rajveer had served the Indian Army with distinction for 14 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in September last year. He was last posted with the Army Aviation Corps in Pathankot. After retirement, he joined Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd as a civilian helicopter pilot.

He had taken leave during his wife’s delivery and resumed flying only a month and a half ago. The birth of the twins had brought immense joy to the family after years of waiting, and a grand celebration was planned for June 30.

“We had booked the venue and finalised the guest list. Rajveer was scheduled to come home on June 25. Everyone was excited,” said his father.

“Rajveer used to video call me daily. But on Sunday, there was no call,” he added, holding back tears.

Breaking the news to Rajveer’s wife — still recovering after childbirth — was one of the most painful moments of his life, Govind Singh said.

Now, instead of welcoming guests to a joyous function, the family mourns the loss of a beloved son, husband and father. The twin boys, just four months old, will never see their father — a brave officer whose life was tragically cut short.

What should have been a celebration of new beginnings has become a story of unbearable sorrow, casting a long shadow over Jaipur and beyond.