The nation bade a teary farewell to the Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh on Monday, as the legendary warrior was laid to rest with full state honours including a flypast by fighter jets in Delhi.
Singh's body was consigned to flames amid chanting of hymns at the Brar Square in Delhi Cantonment in the presence of several senior political leaders and top brass of the Indian Military.
A gun salute was given to Singh while IAF Sukhoi fighter jets carried out a flypast in the ‘missing man formation' in honour of the 1965 war hero who died on Saturday at the age of 98, following a cardiac arrest . IAF choppers executed a flypast as well.
Singh, the only officer to attain the highest post of Marshal of the Air Force, a rank equivalent to the Army's five star field marshal had assiduously led the IAF during the 1965 war and denied success to Pakistan's air force though it was better equipped with American support.
The national flag flew at half-mast at all government buildings in the national capital in the honour of the iconic hero of the 1965 India-Pakistan war, who was the only IAF officer to be promoted to five-star rank after Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
All senior officers of the three services were present at the Brar Square besides several political leaders including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP veteran L K Advani.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Singh's residence yesterday and paid glowing tributes to the war hero.
Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
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