Dharamsala : 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, November 22– is yet to sink in.

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”.

Since early Saturday, heart-wrenching scenes have been witnessed at the Syal household in the Nagrota Bagwan area, with villagers trying to console the wailing family members mourning a life lost too soon.

Jogindernath Syal, Namansh’s uncle, told PTI

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