Fellow Officer & Wife Pays Tribute to IAF Pilot Killed in Budgam

Clad in uniform, the deceased officer’s wife – who is also a squadron leader – laid a wreath before the last rites.

In uniform, the deceased officer’s wife, Aarti Singh(second from left), who is also a squadron leader, laid a wreath before the last rites were performed.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@WriteTake)

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, 1 March, with full military honours.

The mortal remains of the officer had arrived at the Air Force station on a service aircraft on Thursday, 28 February, and were taken to the cremation ground from his residence in Sector 44 on a bedecked IAF vehicle.

In uniform, the deceased officer’s wife, Aarti Singh, who is also a squadron leader, laid a wreath before the last rites were performed. Siddharth’s father lit the funeral pyre.

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.

(Photo: ANI)

(Photo: ANI)

What Happened in Budgam?

An IAF helicopter crashed in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Wednesday, 27 February, killing both its pilots and four others onboard apart from a local resident.

The statement of the IAF said, "A court of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the accident." The statement also said that the pilots were on a routine mission.

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 attended the funeral to pay their last respects.

Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher condoled the death of the officer.

(With inputs from PTI)