Tejas crash victim Wing Commander Namansh Syal cremated with full military honours

The mortal remains of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who died in the Tejas crash at the Dubai Airshow on Friday, were cremated with full military honours in the presence of hundreds of people, including Indian Air Force (IAF) officials and political leaders, in his native Patial Kad village of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district on Sunday.

The atmosphere was filled with patriotic fervour as people chanted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Nammu bhai ka naam rahega”, referring to Syal by his nickname.

Satiah Thakur, a resident of Patial Kad who, along with his son, had reached Gaggal airport to receive the mortal remains, said, “Namansh was known by his nickname Nammu across the village and among his friends. His mortal remains were flown from Coimbatore to Kangra in a special air force aircraft. He visited the village four months ago. He was down-to-earth. We never saw any trace of arrogance in him.”

At around 12.55 pm, Syal’s mortal remains arrived on a special IAF plane, which also carried his wife, Wing Commander Afsan; their seven-year-old daughter, Arayana; and his parents, Jagannath Syal and Veena Devi.

Heartbreaking scenes unfolded when Afsan, dressed in her IAF uniform, and their daughter saluted the mortal remains for the last time. A cousin of Syal lit his pyre.

Nagrota Bagwan MLA R S Bali, who holds the cabinet rank as the chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, was present at the airport on behalf of the state government to receive the body. Ayush Minister Yadvinder Goma was also present during the cremation.

Syal’s uncle Madan Lal told the media, “All villagers are waiting here. Some relatives have also arrived. The last rites will be performed today. This is a great loss for the country. He was exceptionally honest and straightforward.”

Villagers, deeply saddened by his death, gathered there ahead of the funeral. Local resident Sandeep Kumar said, “Everyone in Patial Kad is grieving. He was like a younger brother to us. This should not have happened. We met him just three to four months ago when he visited the village.”

Syal joined the forces after clearing the National Defence Academy exam in 2009. He studied at a primary school in Dalhousie, Army Public School in Yol cantonment, and Sainik School in Sujanpur Tira. His elder sister is an employee with the education department.

Pankaj Chadha, Syal’s schoolmate from Sainik School in Sujanpur Tira, said, “We have lost a gem. He was the pride of our school. We will go to his ancestral village. He made us all very proud.”

Munish Sharma, Subdivisional Magistrate, Nagrota-Bagwan, said, “Around 1,000 people attended the cremation of Wing Commander Namansh Syal. The state government made all arrangements for the cremation. Expecting a large number of people, we had also urged people to pay their tribute to the martyr when the mortal remains were being brought from Gaggal airport via road.”