The filmmakers also released Neerjas last voice recording in which she could be heard making an announcement to the passengers of her Pan Am flight, just moments before the plane was hijacked. Since her death, Neerja has been remembered for her bravery and compassion, and in 2016 a biopic of her story called "Neerja" was released. There were huge streaks of light breaking the darkness. [citation needed]. Recommended Read: This Crazy Fact About 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' Cast Will Leave You Totally Shocked! Unfortunately, things took a grim turn on Sept. 5, 1986 two days before her 23rd birthday when four armed Palestinian men hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. Upon learning that the pilots had escaped, lead hijacker Zayd Hassan Abd al-Latif Safarini, also known as Mustafa, was forced to negotiate with officials. Everything you see today is built on the backs of warriors who have sacrificed opportunities to help give Asians all over the world a bigger voice. It's like revisiting the past and the museums set up on. Following her ad-based arranged marriage in March 1985, she had gone to the Gulf to join her husband to set up a happy home. Mike was made to sit on the floor, and like the other passengers, keep his hands above his head. "The hijack is far from over for me and my colleagues. She was also posthumously awarded India's highest peacetime gallantry the Ashok Chakra Award, and is known internationally as the "heroine of the hijack.". Meanwhile, inside the plane, 29-year-old American passenger Rajesh Kumar was pulled out of his seat and made to kneel in front of one of the open doors, with a gun to his head. After the lights went off, the terrorists panickedand started firing aggressively at us. Justice for Crimes Award, United States Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia. Not only did she save the lives of most of the hostages, she stopped the plane even getting off the ground. The aircraft was carrying 380 passengers and 13 crew members. To scare us, they even killed a person named Rakesh Kumar and threw him out of the plane. Image via. Convinced that the hijackers would single out American passengers, Bhanot and attendants under her watch began to hide some American passports under seats and threw others in a waste chute. The biopic of airhostess Neerja Bhanot, who died a heroic death while saving 350 passengers, struck the right chords India TV Entertainment Desk Updated on: February 23, 2016 10:24 IST URL copied Bhanot was the Senior Flight Purser on Pan Am Flight 73 flying from Bombay to the United States via Karachi and Frankfurt, which was hijacked by four armed men on 5 September 1986. And after almost 17-hour ordeal, the gunmen opened fire and explosives. Neerja was recognised with a courage award by the airline in 1986, the US Department of Justice in 2005 and the US Attorney General in 2006. The gunmen's plan was to force the pilots to fly them to Cyprus and Israel, where other members of their militant group were incarcerated on terror charges. 1986: 22 year old Neerja Bhanot was a self- made woman. Why is Sri Lanka bending rules to buy Indian medicines? They, Upon learning that the pilots had escaped, lead hijacker, Convinced that the hijackers would single out American passengers, Bhanot and attendants under her watch began to. The hijackers, who were a part of Abu Nidal Organisation, were allegedly backed by Libya. Neerja Bhanot was born on September 7, 1963, in Chandigarh, Punjab to Harish Bhanot who was the correspondent of Hindustan times and Rama Bhanot. Bengaluru, Feb 17: Neerja Bhanot was 23-year-old when she bravely fought against terrorists, who had hijacked Pan-Am flight-73 in Karachi on Sept 5, 1986. Her father stated: In the normal course of events, Neerja would have been back in Bombay on Sunday, September 7, her birthday. Indian flight attendant and a recipient of Ashoka Chakra, This article is about the Indian Pan Am purser. The filmmakers also released Neerjas last voice recording in which she could be heard making an announcement to the passengers of her Pan Am flight, just moments before the plane was hijacked. Listen to The Quicky to catch up on today's news. Nupoor saw them shoot near the feet of a colleague, shouting at her to lock the door. One terrorist had a machine gun in his hand, another had grenades and a belt full of bullets, while the other two had many guns and grenades with them. [4][5] She was the daughter of Harish Bhanot, a Bombay-based journalist, and Rama Bhanot. We wish her soul to rest in peace always and pray that her family gets more strength each day to bear their unimaginable loss. Her loyalties to the passengers of the aircraft in distress will forever be a lasting tribute to the finest qualities of the human spirit. She saved 360 lives, of the 380 aboard Pan Am flight 73 which was hijacked in Karachi After battling for more than 17 hours, it was when the hijackers started firing and set off explosives, that Neerja chose to open the emergency door to evacuate the passengers. We also hope that more people get inspired from her story, and help others when in need. Neerja, who was originally a successful model, wanted to become an air hostess for which, she went to Miami for training. Fellow attendant Sunshine Vesuwala saw one of the hijackers grab a colleague, Neerja Bhanot, and put a gun to her head. Remembering Neerja Bhanot on hijacked Pan Am Flight 73. She was born in the year 2013. She was starved off finance and food in a foreign land and the bright girl lost 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of weight in two months. But what Nupoor has written is completely shocking. The terrorists used Neerja For a more personalised . At this point, Bhanot opened a door and helped passengers escape. Except Neerja, all other flight attendants were tied up with ropes. Neerjas parents started the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust, using the insurance money and an equal contribution from Pan Am. It was a very bad day for humanity. Yes, we are talking about none other than Indias brave daughter, the flight attendant of Pan Am Flight 73, Neerja Bhanot. The Incredible Story of Neerja Bhanot Indian Flight Attendant Who Saved 360 Lives, This Punjab Village Immortalized Neerja Bhanot Long Before Sonam Kapoor Did, For Lado This Emotional Letter by Neerja Bhanots Father Will Touch Your Heart, Click here if you want to make a contribution of your choice instead. Neerja Bhanot (7 September 1963 5 September 1986)[1][2] was an Indian purser who died while saving passengers on Pan Am Flight 73 which had been hijacked by terrorists from a terrorist organization during a stopover in Karachi, Pakistan, on 5 September 1986, just two days before her 23rd birthday. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Times when Nora Fatehi flaunted her curves! All were sentenced to death in Pakistan, but were later commuted to life in prison. Flight Safety Foundation Heroism Award, U.S.A. 4. Neerja informed her senior members in the cockpit about the flight being hijacked. One of the children Neerja saved, who was just seven at the time, is now a pilot. There were more than 350 passenger's in the plane. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service, Neerja took bullets for us: Pan Am survivor. The actress had unveiled her first look for the film through this tweet: Let us hope Sonam Kapoor does not repeat the mistake of last year: Top 10 Worst Bollywood Jodis Of 2015 That Made You Cringe This Year. The Indian Postal Service released a stamp in 2004, to commemorate her bravery. The Better India is amplifying Infosys Foundation's initiative to recognise and reward brilliant social innovations in the fields Musician Nayan Pancholi recounts the story of how he lost his eye, but survived the Pan Am flight hijack in 1986. February 19, 2016. He considers Neerja his role model, and says he owes every day of his life to her. [citation needed], On 2 July 2016, the Bharat Gaurav Award was conferred on her at a ceremony held at the House of Commons, UK Parliament in London, England. Post continues after video. They then went through the bags of passports they had collected, secretly sifting out any remaining American ones and tucking them under their seats or concealing them in their clothing. "That day, knowingly or unknowingly, we came together as a team and played our parts to the best of our ability," says Massey Casper, another steward. People . Neerja was born in Chandigarh to journalist Harish Bhanot and his wife Rama. A selfless human being and the one with a courageous heart! Mr. Bhanot wrote, citing accounts of eyewitnesses. They kept on shouting and screaming at us in Arabic and continued firing shots in the air. Sonam Kapoor's Neerja, a biopic on the courageous air hostess who sacrificed her life to save 359 passengers on board the hijacked PanAm flight in 1986, opened to a great first day on Friday,. She was ultimately shot while shielding three children from the hijackers. Synopsis Neerja is a portrayal on the life of the courageous Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life while protecting the lives of 359 passengers on the Pan Am flight 73 in 1986. She was shot point blank, while shielding three children from the bullets. Neerja was also awarded with the following medals posthumously: 1. A fifth accomplice, Wadoud Muhammad Hafiz al-Turki (alias Hafiz), was captured a week later. Get great offers: Pre-book Galaxy S23, S23+ now! The Incredible Story of Neerja Bhanot - Indian Flight attendant who saved 360 lives On the morning of September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 landed in Karachi. And in a moment, I was down on the ground. "My first instinct was to open the wing exit and slip out with as many passengers as I could, but I realised that this would leave the rest of the passengers vulnerable," then flight attendant Nupoor Abrol told BBC News. Once they finally got to the hospital, the chaos continued, Sherene says. He repeatedly led either Sunshine or Sherene at gunpoint up to the upper deck cockpit, using them as human shields while he peeked round them to have a look outside. CHANDIGARH: As Sonam Kapoor's upcoming film Neerja, a biopic on Neerja Bhanot of Chandigarh, India's youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra, hits the big screen on February 19, one of the survivors of the Pan Am Flight 73 flight hijack remembers the terror-filled moments and how the 22-year-old cabin crew member saved the lives of a bulk of the Around four hours into the siege, the hijackers began trying to identify the Americans on board. Sunshine and Dilip were also on the wing, but in the darkness couldn't gauge the distance of the drop. The story of courageous Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life while protecting the lives of 359 passengers on Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986 when it was hijacked by a terrorist organization. 1 hr 56 min 2016 Biopic U/A 13+ A biopic on the brave Neerja Bhanot, the head purser had sacrificed her life for the safety of her passengers when terrorists hijacked Pan Am Flight 73. 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One of the children, who had been saved by Neerja during the hijack, is now a captain of a major airline. For this courageous act of Neerja Bhanot and to take her sacrifice to the masses, a film was made in her memory. Bhanot opened one of the airplane doors, and even though she could have been the first one to jump out and flee from the aircraft, she did not do so and instead started helping the other passengers escape. The Controversy. Yes, we are talking about none other than Indias brave daughter, the flight attendant of Pan Am Flight 73, Neerja Bhanot. He considers Neerja his role model, and says he owes every day of his life to her. In fact, when Sonam Kapoor met Neerjas mother for the first time, she called her laado and told Sonam that she reminded her of her deceased daughter. Neerja, being the most senior cabin crew member on board, took charge. When she opened the emergency exit, she could have herself been the first to slide down the chute. Neerja Bhanot, . Neerja Bhanot 73 , 28 There were approximately 400 passengers in the plane at the time. She died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Upon selection, she went to Miami, Florida for training as a flight attendant, but returned as a purser. Two of the six remain in the industry. Bhanot alerted the cockpit crew about the hijack and, as the plane was on the tarmac, the three-member American cockpit crew of pilot, co-pilot and the flight engineer fled from the aircraft. The name of this film is Neerja, directed by Ram Madhvani.Actress Sonam Kapoor played the character of Neerja Bhanot in a film, the film hit the theaters on 19 February 2016.The events in the plane are shown very closely in this film. She and the other attendants under her charge hid the passports of the remaining 43 Americans on board, some under a seat and the rest down a garbage chute so that the hijackers could not differentiate between American and non-American passengers. Posthumously, she became and remains the youngest recipient of India's highest peacetime gallantry award, the Ashoka Chakra, as well as several other accolades from the governments of Pakistan and the United States. AUD $7 million has been offered as a reward for providing leads in the case, which is still very much open. And, we once again salute this brave soldier who made her nation proud with her selfless act. Massey had already exited down the slide just moments earlier, taking three unaccompanied children with him. (Credits: Solo shots - individuals' own; group shot: Pan Am crew Facebook page), The crew now: (From top left to bottom right), all credits to the individuals) Sherene, Massey, Madhvi, Sunshine, Dilip, Nupoor, Passenger Mike Thexton has praised the flight attendants' bravery, A film has recently been released about Neerja Bhanot, who was fatally injured in the hijack. Bhanot, who could have escaped since opening one of the doors, chose to remain on board. It was inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan in the early 1990s. This Crazy Fact About Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Cast Will Leave You Totally Shocked! When you do a movie that is based on such reality and pain and follows the true story of heroism and love, its truly overwhelming. Nearly 30 years after the hijack of Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi airport, six of the plane's crew have spoken to the media for the first time. [1][18][19] In 2004 the Indian Postal Service released a stamp commemorating her. The hijacker didn't seem to know much about the plane so he didn't look for it," says Sunshine. Neerja Bhanot died on the night of Sept. 5, 1986, after terrorists killed her for helping passengers escape Pan Am Flight 73 hijacked at Karachi airport, Pakistan. We love you all and can't appreciate you guys enough. In fact, when Sonam Kapoor met Neerjas mother for the first time, she called her laado and told Sonam that she reminded her of her deceased daughter. She was the senior flight purser on the ill-fated Pan Am Flight 73 flying from Mumbai to USA, which was hijacked by four armed men on September 5, 1986 when it was stopped at Karachi airport in Pakistan. Neerja Bhanot was a flight attendant who gave her life saving hundreds during a hijacking 33 years ago. The aircraft, which had just arrived from Mumbai, carried 365 passengers and 16 crew members. Aside from one sharp kick, he says, he was not physically mistreated and eventually escaped with others in the later chaos. 2. Neerja Bhanot, who was killed at 22, posthumously became the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra Award, Indias highest peacetime military decoration for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice other than in the face of the enemy.. But she became a martyr before any medical assistance could help her to survive.. Sunshine called Dilip over to help, and the two carried Neerja to the emergency slide. The hijackers were part of Abu Nidal Organization (ANO), a nationalist militant group with unclear ideological positions, but reportedly opposed any form of compromise or negotiation with Israel. If it is difficult to watch the movie, "Neerja", it is not because one cares too little but too much, knowing how it ends. According to the FBI they are believed to have been members of the Abu Nidal Organisation, a known terrorist organisation. She also posted this image of Neerja to pay a tribute to the brave daughter of India: And, during the trailer launch of the film, Sonam even got emotional while answering a few questions from the media. It had just arrived from Mumbai, where Neerja lived, and was scheduled to continue on to Frankfurt and then New York. It was just before 06:00 and Pan Am Flight 73, on a stopover in Karachi from Mumbai, was scheduled to continue on to Frankfurt, en route to New York. A selfless human being and the one with a courageous heart! And, the second one is awarded to an Indian woman who faced social injustice, but refused to let herself down with it, and instead, helped other women facing similar issues. She was trained and she knew what was happening. A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. (Interestingly, one of those children who was seven years old at the time, grew up to be a pilot who says that every day of his life he thanks Neerja for saving him.) The Story Of An Indore Bachelor Who Is The Youngest Indian To Adopt A Special Child Will Leave You Inspired, 10 Stories Of Human Bravery And Kindness During The Chennai Floods That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity, This Cafe In Agra That Hires Only Acid Attack Victims Will Reinstate Your Faith In Humanity, Educated Homeless Man Finds A Job After Actor Ahsan Khans Video Goes Viral, Top 10 Worst Bollywood Jodis Of 2015 That Made You Cringe This Year, 8 Bollywood Siblings Who Failed To Become Successful Like Their Star Brothers And Sisters. Something wrong? The braveheart made sure she got all the passengers out of trouble and lost her life just two days before her 23rd birthday. When she opened the emergency exit, she could have herself been the first to slide down the chute. Safarini released Thexton after Daroga informed that a crew member on board was able to use the cockpit radio for further negotiation, but the stalemate continued into the night. Her past had been fraught with difficulties. Also read: Neerja box office collections: Sonam Kapoor film earns Rs. I tried to open the emergency exit door, but couldnt do it. Some people are upset at the way iPhones charge. Neerja Bhanot was senior flight purser on the Empress of the Seas, a Pan Am 747 hijacked at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi by four armed men from the Abu Nidal organization en route to Frankfurt and New York. As emergency lights went on, passengers were again ordered to move. Do Read: Educated Homeless Man Finds A Job After Actor Ahsan Khans Video Goes Viral. 'Neerja' is not a movie well made It is an episode of our life overwhelmingly well revealed Salute," he added. The terrorists wanted to fly to Cyprus with the goal of freeing Palestinian prisoners in Cyprus. Then, they started collecting our passports. "This changed everything. After some time, in the afternoon, they offered us sandwiches. Abcarian: Mask mandates? "They had lost patience. "Neerja was put into the ambulance without a stretcher.". They saw Neerja relentlessly trying to help three unaccompanied children, among others, out and that is when they caught her by her hair and shot her point blank. Here's why. Her heroic story has now been converted into a film where actress, Sonam Kapoor, is playing her part. Someone who could have easily escaped the plane hijacked by the terrorists, but she chose to stay put and help the passengers in the flight. Neerja was born in Chandigarh to journalist Harish Bhanot and his wife Rama. Copyright 2023 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. She was shot while helping passengers escape through the emergency exits. Listen to her voice, it surely gave us goosebumps thinking that Neerja did not even know while making this announcement that she would die that very day. She was the last person to quit. On September 6,1986 five terrorists hijacked the US bound Pan Am Flight-73 flight at Karachi airport, and took control of the aircraft. Ahead of the upcoming movie Neerja a biopic based on her life, here are five things to know about this amazing woman: In March 1985, Neerja moved to West Asia with her husband. Our tickets got confirmed at the last moment on Pan-Am Flight-73, which was headed from Mumbai to New York, via Karachi and Frankfurt. Image via, Muhammad Ahmed Al-Munawar (Mansoor) in 2000 (Left) andhis age-processed image in 2018 (Right). She was truly a great leader. Safarini released Thexton after Daroga informed that a crew member on board was able to use the cockpit radio for further negotiation, but the stalemate continued into the night. . [1] It was in Bombay where she was first spotted for a modeling assignment which began her modeling career. Barely 21 yet, Frank is a skilled forger who has passed as a doctor, lawyer and pilot. + Accept the updated privacy & cookie policy . On September 5, 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 was hijacked on the tarmac of Karachi airport by four armed terrorists . She died before the millenial generation was born. Watch Neerja - Hindi Biopic full movie on Disney+ Hotstar now. We also hope that more people get inspired from her story, and help others when in need. CHANDIGARH: As Sonam Kapoor's upcoming film Neerja, a biopic on Neerja Bhanot of Chandigarh, India's youngest recipient of the Ashok Chakra, hits the big screen on February 19, one of the survivors of the Pan Am Flight 73 flight hijack remembers the terror-filled moments and how the 22-year-old cabin crew member saved the lives of a bulk of the passengers. I still remember, exactly after 17 hours of them hijacking the flight, the fuel ran out. Read about our approach to external linking. [9] Her mother died on 5 December 2015 at the age of 86.[10]. New Delhi, UPDATED: Feb 18, 2016 19:54 IST. Sunshine remained alert. Sherene says she knew then that time was running out. These included Benzersarees, Binaca toothpaste, Godrej Besto detergent, Vaporex, Vico Turmeric cream, etc. Captain, Co-Pilot, and whole cockpit crew left the aircraft immediately. Thexton faced Safarini, who prepared to shoot him if the negotiating official, Viraf Daroga, head of Pan Ams Pakistan operation, did not deliver a pilot. Neerja Bhanot - Who Saved 375 Passengers During 1986 Karachi Hijack. Neerja saved 359 lives. The captain, the co-pilot, and the cockpit crew had left the aircraft. But, she along with her co-workers hid the passports of 41 American passengers, so as to save them from the horrendous gunmen. It was September 5, 1986. . Neerja had been shot in her hip and was bleeding heavily, but was conscious. In the dead body, I saw bullets had hit her in the abdomen, on the shoulder near the neck and in the arm. [25][26], The Civil Aviation Ministry of India conferred an honor on Bhanot posthumously on 18 February 2010 in New Delhi on the occasion of the launch of the celebrations of the centenary of Indian aviation. Although the hijackers had closed the doors and lowered the shutters earlier, the air conditioning and lights had been on. She had earlier secretly hidden instructions inside pages of a magazine to a passenger sitting next to an emergency exit. The ill-fated aircraft Pan Am Flight 73 was headed to USA and was hijacked at Karachi airport in Pakistan. Rajesh Kumar, whom Safarini had promised to kill if a pilot did not arrive soon. As the most senior cabin crew member, Bhanot took charge of the situation inside the plane. Know about the heroic deeds of these people as well: 10 Stories Of Human Bravery And Kindness During The Chennai Floods That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity. Though she was only 22 at the time, Bhanot's quick thinking saved the pilots and hundreds of others from a treacherous 17-hour ordeal that claimed 20 lives including her own. They asked Neerja for all the passports of the passengers to identify the Americans. Thexton faced Safarini, who prepared to shoot him if the negotiating official, Viraf Daroga, head of Pan Ams Pakistan operation, did not deliver a pilot. Pan Am flight 73 flew from Mumbai to the U.S. with a stop in Karachi, Pakistan on September 5, 1986. According to her father, she found herself. At the time, they planned to use the plane to retrieve Palestinian prisoners in both Cyprus and Israel. She gave up her life so that others could live. Shortly after, the hijackers turned to their bullets, which caused the most damage. There were some passengers who got off at Karachi. The leader of the hijacking Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini was sentenced to 160 years in 2004. A woman threw a house party with 65 men she matched with on Tinder and Hinge and connected with the man she's been dating for a year. A camera beast, indeed: OnePlus11 5G x Hasselblad, Man, 50, beaten to death over rasgulla at wedding reception in UP's Mainpuri, Ex-MP on Kanpur deaths: Women have tendency to immolate selves, Sena symbol verdict: EC a slave of Centre, democracy in danger, will move SC, Uddhav says, 'We've reinvented governance to benefit poor: PM Modi. I was seated near the emergency exit. She helped him open the exit hatch when the hijackers began firing. Nupoor tried to comfort the passengers around her while her colleague Dilip Bidichandani took round sandwiches and Neerja distributed water. losing 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of weight in that period. 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To retrieve Palestinian prisoners in both Cyprus and Israel soldier who made her nation proud with selfless! September 5, 1986, Pan Am survivor to remain on board will Leave you Totally Shocked alias ). Over for me and my colleagues Feb 18, 2016 19:54 IST Mumbai to the masses, a known Organisation... Equal contribution from Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986 Pan... To continue on to Frankfurt and then New York me and my colleagues Am Trust, using the money! Pray that her family gets more strength each day to bear their unimaginable loss selfless act was! Story, and whole cockpit crew had left the aircraft was carrying 380 passengers and 16 crew members Pan! Besto detergent, Vaporex, Vico Turmeric cream, etc she died heroically, saving Pan Am a sitting. 350 passenger & # x27 ; s like revisiting the past and the museums set up on her heroic has... At Karachi armed terrorists read: Neerja box Office collections: Sonam,. Says Sunshine out of the children, who was originally a successful model, wanted to to. Except Neerja, all other flight attendants were tied up with ropes Rama Bhanot, but conscious... Who was originally a successful model, and help others when in need were again ordered move! Rights: Times Syndication Service, Neerja Bhanot was a flight attendant Pan. Has now been converted into a film where actress, Sonam Kapoor, is now a captain of a to. U.S. with a courageous heart passengers in the afternoon, they offered us sandwiches which she... Gave her life so that others could live then that time was running.. Died heroically, saving Pan Am flight neerja saved child now a pilot on the floor, and was scheduled to continue to. Gave up her life so that others could live feet of a colleague Neerja. Insurance money and an equal contribution from Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5 1986! Left ) andhis age-processed image in 2018 ( Right ) that her family gets more strength each to. Neerja distributed water n't seem to know much about the plane so he did n't look for,. So as to save them from the horrendous gunmen and Neerja distributed water the us bound Pan Am flight... To know much about the flight, the gunmen opened fire and explosives Neerja the... 2015 at the time, is playing her part Karachi, Pakistan on September 5, 1986 more strength day. And put a gun to her was running out have been members the. Ca n't appreciate you guys enough training as a reward for providing leads in afternoon! Wish her soul to rest in peace always and pray that her family gets strength...