In a heartbreaking sight, Major VS Dhoundiyal’s wife, Nitika Kaul, was seen next to his casket, bidding farewell to her husband on Tuesday, 19 February, when his mortal remains were brought home in Dehradun for last respects.
In a 30-second clip, a bereaved Nitika was seen looking at her husband Major Dhoundiyal and blowing him a kiss, as several surrounded her.
Major Dhoundiyal and Nitika had gotten married in April last year.
Dhoundiyal died fighting terrorists in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir in an encounter on Monday, 18 February.
Thousands Pay Homage to the Martyr
Family and relatives of Major Dhoundiyal had gathered to pay their last respects before being taken to Haridwar for the last rites.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat placed a wreath on the coffin amid cries of "Shaheed Dhoundiyal Amar Rahein" and "Vande Mataram".
People had climbed to rooftops and also stood on either side of the road leading to the officer's residence.
Major Dhoundiyal's body, draped in the tricolour, was brought home late on Monday night and the funeral will be done with full military honours in Haridwar later in the day.
The news of his death had come while the last rites of Major Chitresh Bisht, who died defusing a mine near the LoC in Rajouri district, were still underway in Haridwar on Monday.
Prominent among those who turned up to pay their last respects to Major Dhoundiyal included State Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj, ex-MP Tarun Vijay, State Assembly Speaker Premchand Agarwal, BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi and Dehradun Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama.
Dhoundiyal, 34, who was on deputation with 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), had three sisters, according to Dainik Jagran. His father Omprakash Dhoundiyal, a controller defence account officer had passed away in 2012.
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