The priest touches Niki’s forehead during the puja. Picture by Anirban Choudhury

Bhatpara Tea Estate (Alipurduar), Feb. 1: Six-year-old Niki Thapa, who saw a MiG-27 crash within 35 metres of her yesterday, is still in a state of shock, prompting her family to summon the local priest to drive away her fear.

The girl had to be admitted to hospital after the fighter plane fell on a betel nut grove where she had gone to pick flowers on her way home from school. She was shivering at the hospital and her hearing had been affected by the ear-splitting noise.

Today, Niki was released from the hospital, but her father Himel said she had “grown very quiet”.

“We were worried because she was not talking or smiling. So we called the priest of the local temple to conduct a puja and help her fight the fear,” said Himel, a schoolteacher.

The priest said he is called when children are gripped by the fear of “ghosts” or the sound of thunder. “This is the first time that I have been asked to drive away the apparition of a burning plane,” said Prem Prasad Sharma after the 15-minute puja.

Apart from the shock, Niki is also limping a little, having twisted her left ankle yesterday. She is still having problems with her hearing.

“Air force officials, along with a doctor, came and checked her today and they will come here again,” said Himel.

Another witness to yesterday’s accident was Binolata Toppo (19), whose house stands just 20m from the crash site. She had seen the pilot of the plane, Wing Commander Jasbir Singh, bail out safely minutes before the crash. Singh landed 3km away.

Binolota’s mother, Friskila, who was inside the house, still cannot hear anything. Air force officials visited the Toppos today and talked to Binolota and her father Christopher.

Following their instructions, Christopher has submitted a list to the Kalchini block development officer detailing his loss. He has demanded compensation for the six goats and four pigs that were killed in the crash and the betel nut trees that were destroyed.

“I will also need money for my wife’s treatment and to repair the damage to my house,” said Christopher.