The final rites of Squadron Leader Lokender Singh Sindhu, one of the two Indian Air Force pilots who lost their lives in the tragic Jaguar fighter jet crash in Churu, Rajasthan, were held in Rohtak on Thursday with full military honours.
A sea of mourners gathered to pay their last respects to the 33-year-old officer, whose coffin arrived draped in the Indian tricolour. Family members, local residents, IAF officials, and civil dignitaries stood in solemn silence as the Air Force contingent gave a ceremonial gun salute.
Squadron Leader Sindhu had been serving with No. 5 Squadron ‘Tuskers’ and was on a routine training mission when the Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed near Bhanoda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district on July 9. He was accompanied by Flight Lieutenant Rishi Raj Singh, who also died in the accident.
A native of Rohtak, Sindhu had recently become a father. His family described him as a dedicated officer who had always dreamed of flying for the nation. His sacrifice has evoked deep emotions across Haryana, with tributes pouring in from former officers, public leaders, and citizens.
As the bugle sounded and the flames rose from the funeral pyre, Squadron Leader Sindhu was bid farewell with cries of “Shaheed Amar Rahein” echoing through the air.
His legacy, marked by courage and duty, lives on in the hearts of a grieving but proud nation.
