Daijiworld Media Network- Jaipur
Jaipur, Jun 17: A heart-rending farewell was witnessed in Rajasthan’s capital on Monday morning as Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Rajveer Singh Chauhan, who tragically lost his life in the recent helicopter crash near Kedarnath, was laid to rest with full military honours. Leading the funeral procession in stoic silence and clad in her Army uniform was his inconsolable wife, Lieutenant Colonel Deepika Chauhan, who bid a final goodbye to her beloved husband.
In a moving video that has since gone viral, Colonel Deepika can be seen standing near her husband’s coffin, visibly shattered, yet holding her composure as she carried his photograph during the procession. The sight left many mourners emotional.
Friends, neighbours, fellow officers, and grieving family members gathered in large numbers to pay their respects. Rajasthan Minister and former Army officer Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also attended the solemn ceremony.
Speaking to reporters, Rathore said, “I came to pay tribute to this brave soul. He left us too soon, but even amidst grief, his mother’s voice echoed with ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. It is because of such courageous families that our country stands strong. Rajveer was not just a fine officer, he was a great human being. He has left behind two infant sons. May God give strength to the family.”
The tragic crash occurred on June 15, when the civilian chopper ferrying pilgrims from Kedarnath to Guptkashi crashed into a forest area shortly after takeoff. According to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), the crash killed all seven people on board — five adult pilgrims, a 23-month-old child, and the pilot.
Colonel Rajveer Chauhan had retired just last year in September after 14 years of dedicated service with the Indian Army, most recently with the Army Aviation Corps in Pathankot. Post-retirement, he had joined Aryan Aviation Pvt. Ltd. as a commercial helicopter pilot.
The tragedy is particularly devastating for the Chauhan family, who were preparing to celebrate the arrival of twin sons born just four months ago — a moment of joy after 14 years of marriage. “We had planned a grand ceremony on June 30. Everything was booked, guests were invited. Rajveer was to return home on June 25. We were all excited,” his grieving father shared.
The untimely demise of Colonel Rajveer Singh Chauhan has not only shattered his family but also left a void in the hearts of many who knew him — a brave soldier, a devoted husband, and a loving father taken too soon.