Manipur bids tearful adieu to Air India plane crash victim Nganthoi Sharma as body reaches home

The atmosphere in Manipur was gripped in tearful emotions as thousands turned up to pay their final respects to Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, the young woman who tragically lost her life in the recent Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Her mortal remains were brought home to Manipur on Sunday, June 22 afternoon, received with tears, prayers, and floral tributes at the Imphal International Airport.

Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh, Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, senior officials from the police department, Airport Authority staff, and Air India personnel joined the grieving family and friends in a solemn ceremony marked by deep sorrow and reverence. As the coffin arrived aboard an Indigo flight, emotions ran high—many unable to hold back tears.

Nganthoi’s father and elder sister, who had travelled to Ahmedabad for DNA confirmation, accompanied the mortal remains back home. Dressed in mourning, they stood strong yet visibly shattered, placing flowers and bowing in final farewell.

The body was then transported to her hometown in Thoubal on an open truck, a poignant journey marked by love and loss. Thousands lined the streets—some in silence, others weeping softly—as petals were showered and prayers whispered. For many, it was not just the farewell to a life lost too soon, but also a symbol of collective grief that united a state in mourning.