Thousands bid tearful adieu to Nganthoi Sharma
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 22 2025: Thousands of people offered floral trib utes and paid respect to cabin crew member Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam, who was killed in the tragic Air India 787-8 plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.On Sunday, her mortal remains landed at Imphal International Airport from Delhi around 1 pm, accompanied by her father, sister and cousins, along with Air India staff.

Her casket was briefly kept at the airport campus, where the chief secretary, DGP, officials, MP Dr Bimol Akoijam members of COCOMI Women's Wing, Indigenous People's Forum Manipur and Imagi Meira, family, relatives and public offered floral tributes and bid their goodbyes.

Later, her remains were taken to her home in Thoubal Awang Leikai as people offered their tributes en-route.

Thoubal Bazar, which is nearby Thoubal Awang Leikai ceased trade activities for the day.

Super Star Club, Awang Leikai Thoubal in collaboration with surrounding clubs organised a condolence meeting cum offering of final tributes at the Club's complex, which was attended by former CM Okram Ibobi, Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol, MLA O Surjakumar, Thoubal deputy commissioner Hannah Kamei, Airports Authority of India staff, representatives of various organisations and the public.

Speaking on the sidelines, MP Bimol noted that Manipuri youth are stepping out of the homely comforts and travelling the world, becoming capable members of the society.

Both Ngangthoi Sharma Kongbrailatpam and Lamnunthem Singson are two such youths.

Although circumstances have made it impossible to grieve for both of them together, he expressed his deepest condolences over their sudden demise and prayed for their souls to rest in peace.

Indigenous People's Forum Manipur president Ashang Kasar also expressed his condolences over the demise of the two cabin crew members.

He urged all indigenous communities to show their solidarity, and pray their deaths would be the spark which would help strengthen the bonds between the various communities, thereby helping to restore peace in Manipur.

COCOMI Women's Wing convenor RK Tharaksana also expressed her deepest condolences and shared the grief of the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, Imphal Airport expressed grief with a post on its official Face-book Page reading: "After a long, sleepless day and night filled with sorrow and aching hearts, our beloved (L) Ms.Nganthoi Sharma Kongbrailakpam has finally returned home - her final journey completed as she arrived at Imphal International Airport on board an IndiGo flight.

The moment was profoundly moving.

She was received with deep dignity, solemn respect, and heartfelt sorrow by Team Imphal Airport, not merely as colleagues in uniform but as family in mourning - united in silence and reverence.

With bowed heads and heavy hearts, she was tenderly handed over to her family, friends, and loved ones, whose presence spoke volumes of the love they carry and the void her absence leaves behind.

Time stood still as she came home - not as the radiant soul we once knew, but as a cherished memory held close by all who knew her.

It was more than a reception - it was a home-coming of love, loss, and remembrance at the very airport where her dreams once soared.

We welcomed her back with honour, with grace, and with the quiet strength that love alone can carry".

Mention may be made here that Nganthdi's elder sister Gitanjali left for Ahmedabad on June 13 for the DNA test.

However, as the DNA matching was low, Nganthoi's father Nadesh Kumar rushed to Ahmedabad on June 20 for the DNA test and her remains was finally identified.

The 20-year-old Nganthoi, and Lamnunthem Singson (26) of Kangpokpi district, both flight attendants from Manipur, were killed in the Air India Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad.

Nganthoi Sharma's family members, devastated by the huge loss, have been inconsolable since the news of the tragedy reached them on June 12.The family went to Ahmedabad and stayed there for the painful wait of the confirmation of the DNA sample.

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" .

Her mother is still in trauma.

Nganthoi 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.

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