Milkha Singh cremated with full state honours, family bids tearful good-bye

Iconic sprinter Milkha Singh was on Saturday cremated with full state honours in Chandigarh.  'The Flying Sikh', as he was fondly called, died on Friday night due to COVID-19 related complications.His son and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh lit the funeral pyre.Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Haryana's Sports Minister Sandeep Singh were among the other dignitaries who attended the last rites. A police contingent reversed arms and sounded the last post in the sprinter's honour. Milkha was also given a gun salute. 

The Punjab government had declared a one-day state mourning and a holiday as a mark of respect to the legend. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had earlier in the day said the Punjab government will accord state funeral to Milkha Singh. Earlier, the funeral procession started from Milkha's Sector 8 residence. His body was carried in a bedecked vehicle, with common people turning up along the short route to the Sector 25 cremation ground to pay their last respects to the legend. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took to Twitter to express his condolences over Singh’s demise, described Milkha as a “colossal sportsperson who captured the nation’s imagination”. “In the passing away of Shri Milkha Singh Ji, we have lost a colossal sportsperson, who captured the nation’s imagination and had a special place in the hearts of countless Indians. His inspiring personality endeared himself to millions. Anguished by his passing away,” he tweeted.