Bhopal: The body of Group Captain Varun Singh, who was martyred in an army helicopter crash in Gunnar, Tamil Nadu, has been cremated with military honors in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
An Air Force helicopter crash in Gunnar, Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu recently killed the Commander-in-Chief of the 3rd Air Force, General Pipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 soldiers.
Recovery with burns
Air Force Group Captain Varun Singh, 39, was rescued with severe burns and admitted to a military hospital in Bangalore, Karnataka. He died on the 15th after intensive treatment. His family hails from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh and currently resides in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
His body was taken to the Bhopal Army Hospital from Bangalore yesterday. From there his body was placed in a military vehicle decorated with flowers and taken in procession yesterday to the cremation ground in the Byrgar area wrapped in the national flag.
Participants in the procession chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Group Captain Varun Singh Amar Rahe’. Security forces paid homage to his body on the cremation ground. Then the high officials of the army paid homage to him with a flower ring.
On behalf of the state government, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Minister Vishwas Sarang paid homage to his body. Varun Singh’s body was later cremated for firing.
His younger brother, the Indian Navy Lieutenant Commander and his 11-year-old son performed the funeral rites.
1 crore fund
In August, Varun Singh avoided a major accident by handling a technical glitch while operating the Tejas fighter jet with tact and bravery. For this he received the country’s highest ‘solar chakra’ award.
The Madhya Pradesh government will provide Rs 1 crore to the family of Varun Singh, who died a heroic death, and install a statue of him in a public place, including state government work for one member of the family, Chief Minister Sivraj Singh Chauhan has said.
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