On December 24 night, Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Harshit Sinha died when his MiG-21 aircraft crashed in Jaisalmer during a training sortie.
Wing Commander Sinha's death adds to the tally of IAF pilots killed in MiG-21 crashes. Despite the high casualty figures, the air force continues to deploy MiG-21s, which have long outlived their utility.
Please click on the images for glimpses of the unbearable sadness at Wing Commander Sinha's funeral.
IMAGE: The wing commander's wife weeps while receiving the Tricolour and his belongings.
Photograph: ANI Photo
IMAGE: The unbearable sadness of an irreplaceble loss. Photograph: ANI Photo
IMAGE: A family member weeps at the wing commander's coffin.
Photograph: PTI Photo
IMAGE: Indian Air Force personnel pay their respects to Wing Commander Sinha at the funeral.
Photograph: PTI Photo
Photographs curated by Anant Salvi/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com