E-Paper
Uri martyr cremated on his 48th birthday
Havaldar Nimbh Singh Rawat was among the 18 soldiers who were killed in the terrorist attack on Uri army base on September 17
Thousands stood mute spectators as the mortal remains of havaldar Nimbh Singh Rawat, posted with 6 Bihar regiment, were consigned to flames on his 48th birthday at his native village Rajwa in Rajsamand district on Tuesday.
Rawat was among the 18 soldiers who were killed in the terrorist attack on Uri army base on September 17. The fidayeen-style attack had also left more than 20 soldiers wounded, some of them seriously.
Over 60,000 teary-eyed people gathered at the cremation ground to pay respects to the brave soldier who was transferred to Uri from Jalpaiguri in West Bengal just three weeks ago. A number of students from Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, also paid their tributes.
Son of an armyman Kesar Singh, Rawat is survived by wife Rodi Devi, daughters Asha, 15, Deepa, 13, Nisha, 10, Payal, 7, and son Chandan, 5.
In a series of tweets chief minister Vasundhara Raje expressed grief over the death of Rawat. “My heart breaks to know that we shall pay our last respects to Veer Nimbh Singh Rawat ji on his 48th birthday today.”
“His sacrifice and love for our motherland cannot be expressed in words. We strongly stand by his family in these cruel times.”
Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot, state minister Kiran Maheshwari and MLA Hari Singh Rawat among others paid respects to Rawat at Rajwa village.
Rawat’s body was flown in from Kashmir to Maharana Pratap Airport in Udaipur for last rites on Monday. His body reached Rajwa village around 10.30 am on Tuesday after a two-km procession.
