For the people of Patiyalkar, a sleepy village in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, the news of the death of local hero Namansh Syal – the IAF Wing Commander killed after a Tejas fighter jet crashed during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show on Saturday – is yet to sink in.

The death of Wing Commander Namansh Sayal has left his native village in deep mourning.

For most of them, Namansh, who was in his mid-30s, remains an outstanding athlete distinguished by his dedication to the country, “who even set an example in death by diverting the aircraft to save thousands present at the mega air show”.

The 34-year-old pilot is survived by his wife, also an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer, their six-year-old daughter and his parents. Relatives of Wing Commander Namansh Syal mourn his lo

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