New Delhi: Indian Air Force Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed to his injuries after surviving the chopper air crash in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor, was cremated with full military honours in Bhopal today, reported PTI. Wrapped in a tricolour on a flower bedecked Army truck while the crowds chanted ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Group Captain Varun Singh amar rahe,’ his mortal remains were brought to the cremation ground in Bairagarh area.
A ceremonial guard of honour was given by the defence forces personnel after the mortal remains arrived at the cremation ground. Senior services officers paid tribute to Captain Singh by placing a floral wreath on his coffin.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang also paid their tributes to the Group Captain. His younger brother, a Lieutenant Commander in the Indian Navy and his son lit the pyre after the priest and the family members performed the rituals amid the slogans of “Group Captain Varun Singh amar rahe.’
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Singh’s mother Uma, father Colonel KP Singh (Retired), his wife, daughter, and other close relatives were present to bid farewell to him.
Singh is survived by his wife, eleven-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter.
Group Captain Varun Singh breathed his last at a military hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday after surviving the helicopter crash that occurred on December 8 in Tamil Nadu’s Coonoor. The air crash had killed Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 personnel of the armed forces.
Singh was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra, India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award, in August this year for his exemplary composure and skill when his Tejas aircraft developed a technical snag.