Adieu, Milkha Singh

At 4.30 pm, the funeral procession of Milkha Singh started from Sector 8, Chandigarh, to Sector 25, Chandigarh.

Milkha Singh’s son Jeev Milkha Singh in front of the pyre at the cremation ground in Sector 25, Chandigarh, on Saturday. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

“Today, Milkhaji is not among us, but we will fulfil his last wish of India winning an Olympic gold in athletics,” said Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju as he paid tribute to Flying Sikh Milkha Singh, who was cremated with full state honours on Saturday.

Rijiju also handed over a condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jeev Milkha Singh.

In fact, people from all walks of life gathered to pay tributes to the sporting legend. Since morning, dignitaries and politicians, including Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, former Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, president of Shiromani Akali Dal (Democratic) Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former Cabinet minister Daljeet Singh Cheema, Haryana MLA Gian Chand Gupta, AAP leader Raghav Chadha, Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi and other Haryana and Punjab government officials visited the residence of Milkha Singh to pay condolences to the family.

The well-wishers of Milkha Singh family and sportsmen, including golfers, caddies and their family members, visited too.

Read | His passing a loss to our family, to Pakistan: Milkha Singh’s rival’s son

At 4.30 pm, the funeral procession of Milkha Singh started from Sector 8, Chandigarh, to Sector 25, Chandigarh. While Milkha’s son Jeev Milkha Singh was in the funeral vehicle, daughters Dr Mona Singh, Sonia Sanwalka and grandson Harjai Milkha Singh followed closely behind in personal cars. The family put a photo of Milkha Singh’s wife Nirmal Milkha Singh, who had died last Sunday, in his hands.

A photo of his wife Nirmal Milkha Singh, who passed away due to Covid complications last Sunday, in the hands of Milkha Singh, before his last rites. (Express photo by Jasbir Malhi)

At the cremation ground, more than a hundred people, including Sports Minister Rijiju, UT Administrator V P Singh Badnore and Haryana Sports Minister Sandeep Singh, were present. Jeev Milkha Singh lit the funeral pyre.

The police contingent of Chandigarh and the Punjab reversed arms and sounded the last post. They gave a gun salute as well.

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Fans too join

An athlete and a labourer, Chanan Singh, 34, resident of Phallewal village, Ludhiana, reached Chandigarh and waited for hours to catch the last glimpse of Milkha Singh.

“I am an athlete, and have been participating in marathons for the past 22 years. I have participated in village-level tournaments. Milkha Singh was my inspiration. I once came to meet him at his residence, and he gave me Rs 5,000,” said Chanan Singh.

Anil Kumar, an autorickshaw driver from Mauli Jagran, paid tribute to the Flying Sikh by putting his picture on his autorickshaw. “I always wanted to meet Milkhaji, but that couldn’t be possible. Since I know that he was the pride of our nation, I tried to pay tribute to him with whatever I had,” said Anil Kumar.

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An artist and a graphic designer, Varun Tandon, 35, created Milkha’s photo from a feather of sparrow.“Since Milkhaji was a Flying Sikh, I created his photo with a feather of sparrow, which I found on the roof of my house,” he said.

Punjab Chief Minister announces Milkha Singh Chair

Speaking to media persons outside the residence of Milkha Singh, Captain Amarinder Singh said, “It is a great loss for us. The young generations will get inspired by him. We are going to have Milkha Singh Chair at the sports university of Patiala.”

Tributes from Haryana too

Expressing his condolences on the sad demise of the Flying Sikh, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said, “Flying Sikh Milkha Singh will always live in the hearts of every Indian for his exceptional accomplishments on and off the field and his humane personality will always be remembered.”

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij too expressed their condolences.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More