Three days after he died in a chopper crash in Uttarakhand, the mortal remains of Flight Lieutenant Tapan Kapoor were consigned to flames at Nigambodh Ghat here with full State honours.
Delhiites bid a tearful farewell to their brave son even as a large number of politicians and people from different walks of life attended the brave soldier’s last rites.
The Air Force officer, who hailed from the Kinari Bazar area of Chandni Chowk, was onboard the ill-fated Mi-17 along with 19 others when it crashed near Gaurikund on Tuesday.
Since the news of his death, his family had been waiting for the body to reach Delhi. It was expected to arrive on Thursday, but its departure from Uttarakhand was delayed by a day due to identification issues.
A relative of the deceased said on Friday that the body arrived at Hindon Airbase in an IAF aircraft around noon and Flt. Lt. Kapoor’s parents went there to receive it a couple of hours later. A guard of honour was presented by the Armed Forces at the airbase as a mark of respect to the soldier.
The final journey from Flt. Lt. Kapoor’s house in Chandni Chowk to Nigambodh Ghat was an emotional affair with tearful family and neighbours queuing up. Joining them were many of his colleagues, who described him as an excellent officer.
Shops around his house remained closed as a mark of respect for the departed soul. Area residents even showered petals on the coffin, draped with the Tricolour.
As the procession moved from the narrow alleys of Kinari Bazar and Parathewaali Gali to the funeral site, several others joined in for a last glimpse of their hero.
Union Minister and Chandni Chowk MP Kapil Sibal and Delhi Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely were in attendance at the cremation ground.
Following the gun salute, the funeral pyre was lit around 6.15 p.m.
