Mangalore : Wing Commander Darryl Castelino who had his roots in Kinnigoli  and lost his life in a helicopter crash during the rescue operation of Uttarakhand  flood victims, has been posthumously conferred the Kirti Chakra, the nation’s second highest peacetime Gallantry Award, on Republic Day.

Wing Commander Darryl who was posted at the IAF base at Kolkata was active in the relief operations and had rescued before he met a tragic end when his Mi-17V helicopter crashed killing all 20 on board.

Darryl has left behind his wife Jyothi, son Ethan (7) and daughter Angelina (4).  The family had moved to Mumbai years ago.