The body of Rear Admiral S S Jamwal, who died here in an “accidental firing” on July 7, was cremated with full military honours in Kochi on Friday afternoon.
The poignant ceremony was led by Flag Officer of the Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral K. N. Sushil. The Additional District Magistrate of Ernakulam laid a wreath on behalf of Kerala Governor R. S. Gavai.
Several officers, sailors and civilians had turned out in large numbers to pay their last respects to 51-year-old Jamwal, Chief of Staff and second most important officer of the Southern Naval Command, who was killed in a “firing accident” at INS Dronacharya, the navy’s training establishment.
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Earlier, the cortege left the Staff House - the official residence of Chief of Staff at the Naval base- here after the late Rear Admiral’s wife Geeta Jamwal and her two children bade their final farewell.
The personnel of the Indian Navy lined up on either side of the road and paid their last respects as the cortege passed them.
The Rear Admiral’s son lighted the funeral pyre and a 24 Men Guard comprising Navy personnel fired in the air as the mortal remains were consigned to the flames.
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Mr. Jamwal’s brother, who arrived here from Mumbai, watched the ceremonies on his wheel chair.
Earlier, wreaths on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff, Commander in Chiefs of Western and Eastern Naval Command and Southern Air Command were placed on his body, a Naval release said.
The Navy has maintained that the Rear Admiral had died in “accidental firing” as a pistol he was inspecting accidentally went off at the INS Dronacharya.