J S Kahlon cremated with full honours

MOHALI: Jasminder Singh Kahlon, the Mohali-based pilot who died in a helicopter crash near Gandarbal, on Tuesday, was cremated with full honours at the Mohali cremation ground, on Wednesday. Relatives, friends and colleagues from J&K government and the Air Force bid Kahlon a tearful farewell as his body was consigned to flames before a massive gathering.
"He was an extraordinary pilot, one of the best when it came to flying helicopters.In fact he taught my son the tricks of the trade when he was posted under him at Jammu," said Lt Gen GS Kler. Maj Gen Sati Chahal, a classmate of Kahlon could be seen wiping tears from his eyes as Sirpreet, Kahlon''s son lit the pyre. "His death is a personal loss to me," said Chahal.
The Air Force had also sent its representatives to pay respects and Wing Commander R Abrol placed wreaths on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff and Air Officer Commanding, 12 Wing.
Kahlon was the Commissioner Civil Aviation, in J&K and the government had sent its representatives at the funeral. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, the resident commissioner, J&K, Jafar Ahmad Bhatt, additional secretary, civil aviation had come to pay their respects. Among the other notable persons at the cremation were the wife of Chief Secretary J&K and Ajatshatru Singh, National Conference leader and grandson of Maharaja of Kashmir Gulab Singh.
Some relatives of Kahlon were, however, angry that the Punjab government did not send anyone to attend that cremation.
Kahlon was killed along with four other persons when the state owned BEL 407 helicopter which was coming back from the Holy Cave shrine at Amarnath hit a tree on a hill top and crashed just 10 minutes before it was scheduled to land at the Nehru Helipad at Srinagar, on Tuesday.