The last rites of Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht, who died in a helicopter crash in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district, were performed in Chandigarh on Friday with full military honours.
The mortal remains of the officer had arrived at the Air Force station here on a service aircraft on Thursday. It was taken to the cremation ground from his residence here in Sector 44 on a bedecked IAF vehicle.
In uniform, the deceased officer's wife, Aarti, who is also a squadron leader, laid a wreath before the last rites were performed. Siddharth Vashisht's father lit the funeral pyre.
Hundreds of people, including family members and friends, and serving and retired defence officers attended the cremation.
Air Force personnel fired in the air and reversed their arms as a mark of respect.
The Indian Air Force gave a gun salute in presence of officials from the IAF, the civil administration and a large number of people who turned up to pay their last respects.
Chandigarh BJP president Sanjay Tandon and Haryana Minister Naib Saini were also present there.
Vashisht (31) was a fourth-generation member from his family in the armed forces. He was commissioned in the IAF in 2010 and last month, he received commendation for his role in the rescue operation during the Kerala floods.
An IAF helicopter crashed in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday, killing both its pilots and four others onboard besides a local resident.
Besides two pilots, four others on board the chopper died in the crash on Wednesday. A local resident also died in the crash.
PTI
