Uniform-Clad Wife Of Martyred IAF Pilot Bids Final Goodbye To Her Husband

On one hand, the nation welcomed back its hero, Wing Commander Abhinandan, on Friday, on the other, India also paid its last respect to its another braveheart Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht on the same day. The IAF officer breathed his last after his chopper crashed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday.

His mortal remains arrived at the Air Force station of his hometown, Chandigarh on a service aircraft on Thursday. IAF officers and his family paid their last tribute to the Tricolor clad officer at cremation ground nearby his residence in the city.

Hundreds of local people, family relatives, and retired defense officers arrived at the deceased 31-year-old officer’s funeral. But the one who stood out, clad in an Indian Air Force blue uniform was the late officer’s wife, Aarti Singh, who also serves the country as a Squadron Leader.

Squadron Leader Siddharth Vashisht who was the pilot of the Mi-17 helicopter that crashed in Budgam,J&K on February 27 was cremated in Chandigarh earlier today. (In pic 1: his wife Squadron Leader Aarti Singh holding the folded tricolour) pic.twitter.com/ShIBfpyBL3

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2019

With pride and tears in her eyes, Aarti laid a wreath before the last rites of her husband were performed. Siddharth’s father lit the funeral pyre. The Indian Air Force laid the brave officer to rest with a gun salute.

https://twitter.com/AsYouNotThinks/status/1101464620114432001

Siddharth 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, reported Outlook.

The Budgam helicopter crash claimed the lives of two pilots with four other officers on-board. It also killed a local resident.

We hope that the souls of all our brave officers rest in peace!