Silence in the Streets, Tears in Every Eye: Chatra Air Ambulance Crash Wipes Out Sanjay Saw’s Family

Latehar/Chatra, Jharkhand: A pall of grief hangs over the villages of Chatra district after a devastating air ambulance crash claimed multiple lives, including that of Sanjay Kumar Saw, his wife Archana Devi, and 17-year-old Dhruv Kumar. What was meant to be a flight toward hope and recovery turned into a tragedy that has shattered entire families.

The crash occurred in the Simaria block’s Kasariya panchayat area, leaving once-bustling lanes in Chandwa eerily silent. Neighbors who once shared laughter and daily exchanges now stand united in mourning.

A Life Marked by Struggle

Sanjay Kumar Saw, originally from Rakhat village under Chandwa police station limits, had endured hardship from an early age. In 2004, his father was killed by Naxalites, forcing the family to flee their ancestral home amid fear and uncertainty. They relocated to Chandwa in 2002, determined to rebuild their lives.

In 2003, Sanjay began running a roadside eatery on rent in Bakoria. Known for his gentle demeanor and warmth, he quickly became a familiar and beloved face in the community. But tragedy struck again just a week ago when a fire broke out at his dhaba, leaving him severely burned. Neighbors rallied to support him, and he was undergoing treatment in Ranchi.

As his condition failed to improve, doctors arranged for him to be airlifted from Ranchi to Delhi for advanced medical care. Accompanying him on the ill-fated flight were his wife Archana Devi and Dhruv Kumar. None survived.

Children Left Orphaned

The accident has dealt a crushing blow to Sanjay’s two sons — Shubham (17) and Shivam (13) — who have now lost both parents. In another home, grief is equally unbearable: Dhruv Kumar, the only son of his parents, was among the victims, extinguishing a family’s sole hope for the future.

Sanjay’s elderly mother, Chinta Devi, is inconsolable. Shocked beyond words, she sits in silence, tears having long dried on her face — a haunting image of a mother overwhelmed by loss.

A Community Mourns Dr. Vikas Gupta

The tragedy also claimed the life of Dr. Vikas Kumar Gupta, a respected physician who had served as in-charge at the Garu and Chandwa Community Health Centers. Dr. Gupta was not only a doctor but a trusted confidant to countless patients. His compassion and dedication had earned him deep respect across the region. His untimely death is being mourned as a profound loss to the medical community and local residents alike.

A Family’s Repeated Tragedy

Sanjay Saw was the second of five brothers. His elder brother Vijay Saw runs a dhaba, while another brother, Arvind Saw, died in 2022 due to alleged medical negligence. Ajay Saw works as a junior engineer with Haryana Roadways, and the youngest brother, Sujit, drives an auto-rickshaw to support the family.

This latest tragedy has once again plunged the Saw family into unimaginable crisis.

As investigators continue to examine the cause of the crash, the human toll remains painfully evident. In Chandwa and beyond, doors remain half-closed, conversations subdued, and prayers whispered — for the departed souls and for the strength of those left behind.