Thousands Mourn As Body Of Air India Crew Member Reaches Home In Manipur
In a night heavy with sorrow, silence, and candlelight, the body of Lamnunthem Singson - fondly known as Neonu - finally returned home to Kangpokpi late Thursday evening. At around 9:20 pm yesterday, her body arrived at a heart-wrenching scene in the town, as thousands of townspeople lined the streets to honour their brave daughter, who lost her life in the tragic Air India crash.
Under the aegis of the Kangpokpi Town Committee, a human chain and candlelight vigil stretched for kilometres along both sides of National Highway-2.
Young and old, men and women, friends and strangers, all stood shoulder to shoulder, holding flickering candles in a silent tribute that lit up the dark night with love and grief.
At her residence, a solemn reception with prayer was offered, and the traditional draping of a shawl over her coffin was done.
Among the most heartbreaking sights of the evening was her widowed mother, her closest companion, sitting tearfully beside Neonu's lifeless body - her face etched with unspeakable grief, her hands resting gently on the casket, unwilling to let go.
The funeral service will begin at 11:00 am today, followed by her burial at the town cemetery later in the afternoon. Kangpokpi, cloaked in mourning, prepares to bid a final farewell to a beloved daughter whose memory will forever remain etched in the heart of her people.
26-year-old Lamnunthem Singson, a dedicated Air India cabin crew member, was among the victims of the ill-fated Air India crash.
According to family sources, Singson was not originally scheduled to fly on the ill-fated flight. She stepped in to cover for a colleague who had taken sick leave - a decision that now stands as a heartbreaking twist of fate and a testament to her professionalism and commitment to her job.
Just a night before the tragedy, she had spoken to her mother, Nemneilhing Singson, telling her she wanted to sleep early in preparation for her duty the next day. The two, as was their nightly routine, had prayed together over the phone before sleeping, unaware that it would be their final conversation.
Born on November 13, 1998, Lamnunthem was the only daughter of her widowed mother and the third among four siblings. Her late father, Lienminlun Singson, had passed away years ago. Following the ethnic violence that engulfed Manipur in May 2023, the Singson family, belonging to the Kuki-Zo community, fled their ancestral home in Imphal's Old Lambulane area and have since lived in a rented house in Kangpokpi district.
Despite facing immense challenges, Lamnunthem emerged as the family's sole breadwinner. Her eldest brother, Ngamlienthang, is battling a serious medical condition and is under treatment in Guwahati, while her youngest sibling, Lenjathang, is still too young to work.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
God's wish: Man who lost 2 loved ones in air crashes 37 years apart
Ahmedabad: For businessman Saurin Palkhiwala, the news of Air India Flight 171's crash brought back the most painful memories of his life. In the 1988 air tragedy in Ahmedabad, he had lost his sister's prospective father-in-law. On June 12, his 26-year-old daughter Sanjana was among the 241 passengers who perished in one of the worst aviation disasters the country has seen. "When I got the news of the AI 171 plane crash, shock numbed me as I had witnessed a crash site before. Instinctively, I knew I had lost my daughter and prayed for her. I rushed home from the office, picked my wife Sonali and left for Civil Hospital," says Palkhiwala, his voice breaking. In 1988, a young Palkhiwala had dashed to the crash site to find that his sister's to-be father-in-law, merchant banker Pradeep Harkishandas Dalal, had succumbed to his injuries. Now, he is reeling from the grief of losing his only daughter, Sanjana, who was flying to the UK for a reunion with her friends from college. The Palkhiwalas say the almighty blessed them with a child late and took her back early. "Sanjana was born to us 14 years after marriage. My wife is an ardent devotee of Goddess Gayatri and when Sanjana was born, we were grateful for the divine gift. She was a brilliant student. Our home is full of her memories and wonderful paintings. After completing her BBA from Pune, she pursued her master's in management of technology (MOT) from New York University. She was going to the UK for a reunion with her college friends," Palkhiwala said. The family has adorned the house with numerous pictures of Sanjana through various phases of her short life, and is going through a difficult time of processing her untimely death. "The only way to come to terms with this loss is to know that it is almighty's wish. We cannot do anything in such a situation. Just the other day we were planning her engagement and then performed her last rites and held a besna," the anguished father said. Sanjana was a connoisseur of global cuisine and was keen on starting a business in the food sector. Saloni Palkhiwala, Sanjana's cousin, said, "We bonded very well and were like twin sisters. She had just started playing tennis and enjoyed cricket. She was a lively person who loved dancing, reading, painting and travelling."
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Spiritual leader Morari Bapu announces financial assistance of Rs 51 lakh to kin of Ahmedabad crash victims
Spiritual leader Morari Bapu has extended his tributes to the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash of June 12, and announced a financial assistance of Rs 51 lakh to the families of the deceased, said a release on Friday. 'Moved deeply by the tragedy, Morari Bapu has dedicated an assistance of Rs 51 lakh for the families of the plane crash victims. The assistance would be delivered to the families of the deceased by Shri Chitrakutdham Trust after getting details from Air India. The financial arrangement has been supported by Ramesh Sachdev, a Ram Katha listener from London,' the release added.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, watches in awe as Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates century
Air India Crash: Miracle Survivor Vishwas Kumar Ramesh Discharged, to Perform Brother's Last Rites Air India crash survivor Viswas Kumar Ramesh has been discharged from Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and is heading home to perform the last rites of his younger brother, who perished in the April 12 crash. Ramesh, the only survivor among 242 passengers on the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, was flung out of the aircraft after it broke apart mid-takeoff. His seat, 11A, detached and landed near ground level, sparing him the deadly fireball. Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, called his survival a miracle and expressed disbelief at how he made it out alive. A viral video earlier showed him emerging from the BJ Medical campus minutes after the crash. Ramesh is now returning home not to celebrate life, but to bid farewell to his brother. PM Modi and HM Amit Shah had visited him during his recovery. As he prepares for the cremation, his story remains a powerful symbol of resilience in the face of overwhelming tragedy.#AirIndiaCrash #ViswashkumarRamesh #Boeing787Crash #MiracleSurvivor #BJMedicalTragedy #IndiaUK #ModiAhmedabadVisit #AviationDisaster #CrashSurvivorStory #PlaneCrashIndia #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews 24.6K views | 2 days ago
