Voice behind ISRO's launch countdowns, Valarmathi, passes away

CHENNAI: The voice behind ISRO's rocket countdown launches, N Valarmathi passed away on Saturday evening due to a heart attack, in Chennai.

According to Sources, Valarmathi was a native of Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu.

The highly successful Chandrayaan-3, launched on July 14, turned out to be her final countdown. Valarmathi was a part of the Range Operations Programme Office at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre where she used to announce the countdown on all launches.

Condolences poured in for Valarmathi, with Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar among others expressing grief over her death. .

Many fondly recalled her resonating countdown from the Mission Control Centre at ISRO's Sriharikota spaceport during many launches.

Condoling her demise, Dr PV Venkitakrishnan, a former director at ISRO, taking to X, tweeted: “The voice of Valarmathi Madam will not be there for the countdowns of future missions of ISRO from Sriharikota. Chandrayaan-3 was her final countdown announcement. An unexpected demise. Feel so sad. Pranams!”