NEW DELHI: A team including Kerala ministers have received the mortal remains of Pradeep A, junior warrant officer, who died in a helicopter crash along with 12 others including General Bipin Rawat. The ministers received the mortal remains at Walayar. A large number of people had gathered there to pay their final respects to Pradeep.

The body will be kept at Puthur High School for the general public to pay their final respects. The funeral will be held today evening with full military honours.

Pradeep's brother Prasad had gone to Coimbatore to receive the mortal remains. However, authorities said that the mortal remains will be handed over only after taking it to Delhi. Following this, Prasad returned home after completing procedures to receive the mortal remains.

Pradeep, a native of Ollur in Thrissur joined Airforce in 2004. He was serving at Sulur Airbase in Coimbatore. The accident happened when Rawat and his crew were on their way to Wellington to attend a junior cadet officers’ seminar. Pradeep was one of the army personnel who accompanied the crew from Sulur airbase.