Mangaluru: The district administration paid homage to the victims on the sixth anniversary of the Air India Express crash near Tannirbhavi on Sunday, May 22.

District incharge minister Ramanath Rai, Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, Airport Director J T Radhakrishnan, DCP Shantharaju and others paid floral tribute at Tannirbhavi where a park is being constructed in the memory of the victims.

Addressing the gathering, Ramanath Rai expressed his sympathies to the families affected in the incident.

“Mangaluru witnessed one of the worst aviation disasters six years ago. It is quite difficult to forget the incident. New Mangaluru Port is developing this park in memory of those departed souls,” he said.

A B Ibrahim said that the memorial was built near Tannirbhavi and not near the airport as it could have adverse effect on passengers at the airport. He also said that the construction of the park is almost complete which is built at the cost of Rs 60 lakhs.

“The memorial will be constructed very shortly. We have requested Air India Express and the Mangaluru airport authorities to contribute for the same as the cost of constructing would come to RS 9 lakh,” he said.

It may be recalled that the air crash which took place on May 22, 2010 saw 158 people losing their lives with 8 surviving miraculously.

Zilla panchayat vice president Kasturi Panja, deputy chairman of NMPT Suresh Shirwadkar and others were present.