Manipur bids tearful adieu to Nganthoi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2025: The mortal remains of Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma reached Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal this afternoon, and were taken to her home at Thoubal Awang Leikai for last rites.

One of the cabin crew members of the fateful Air India flight 171 that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12, Nganthoi's remains reached Imphal airport at 1.10 pm today on Indigo Flight 6E 5118 .

At the airport, the State and the people received Nganthoi with full honour and respect.

MP Bimol Akoijam, Khangabok AC MLA Okram Surjakumar, Chief Secretary PK Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh, Imphal West SP Ksh Shivakanta, family members, staff of the airport authority, Air India Express and Indigo, members of COCOMI Women Front and Indigenous People's Forum Manipur, and near and dear ones received Nganthoi.

After the State paid last respect to the "daughter of Manipur", the mortal remains were then taken to her home at Thoubal Awang Leikai.

On the way to Thoubal, people in large number came out on the road and paid floral tributes to the mortal remains.

Thoubal Bazar shut shops and people gathered on the sides of NH-102 paid their last respect to the mortal remains.

Super Star Club, Awang Leikai held a solemn ceremony to pay last respect to Nganthoi at its premises.

Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, MLA O Surjakumar, Thoubal DC Hannah Kamei, staff of Imphal airport, many members of civil bodies and locals were present.

Earlier at the airport, Chief Secretary PK Singh paid his respect and said that the State mourns the demise of the two daughters of Manipur in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.

Nganthoi Sharma's last message to her family before taking off was, "I'm going to London.

In a few minutes, we'll take off.

We may not be able to talk afterwards".

Nganthoi Sharma's father, K Nandeshkumar, and mother are still in trauma.

She was the second of three siblings, all girls.

"It was her dream to become a flight attendant.

We couldn't chat on video as usual due to the internet ban.

But she messaged me while I was in school that she would be flying today, and that she would be unreachable," Nganthoi Sharma's elder sister Gitanjali told NDTV on June 12."After completing Class 12, she enrolled in DM College of Commerce.

She was very keen on trying for a cabin crew job.

She cracked it in her first try; she was very happy in thinking about going to many destinations," Gitanjali had said.

Air India recruited her in Imphal three years ago, while she was studying in an undergraduate programme.

"She got selected and was based in Mumbai," a family member said.

There were 242 passengers on board the Air India flight.

Only one passenger survived the crash.

The demise of the two young souls from Manipur is very unfortunate, said the Chief Secretary, sharing the grief and pain of the bereaved family members.

He called on all communities to work together and work towards bringing complete normalcy and peace in Manipur.

Lok Sabha MP Bimol Akoijam said Nganthoi's untimely demise is very unfortunate and saddening.

Nganthoi was among Manipur's young generation who are working, exploring and shaping their careers in various fields outside the State, Bimol said, extending condolences to the bereaved family members.

Indigenous People's Forum Manipur president, Ashang Kasar said the untimely demise of Nganthoi Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson in the plane crash was heartbreaking.

They were together when they died.

"They remind us of the peaceful coexistence that existed from the time of our forefathers," Ashang said, calling on people to foster peace and coexistence.

Notably, Nganthoi's mortal remains were identified by DNA testing and comparing samples taken from her father, K Nandeshkumar.

The mortal remains of Lamnunthem Singson, on the other hand, were identified earlier and were brought to Kangpokpi via Dimapur for last rites on June 20.The Air India flight 171 carrying 242 passengers and crew members crashed in Ahmedabad shortly after take-off for Gatwick, London killing all but one passenger on board, and 29 on the ground as the aircraft smashed into a medical college complex in the Meghaninagar area.

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