Mobilenews24x7 Bureau

Hamirpur (HP), Jan 21: Mortal remains of a Naval officer, Surendra Dhatwalia (47 years) old, who was martyred in a fire on INS Ranvir on Tuesday, were consigned to flames at a crematorium at Jorghat Khad near his home village of Sathwin in Hamirpur district on Friday.

The pyre was lit by the nephew of the martyr amid slogans of ‘Martyr Surendra Dhatwalia, Amar Rahe”. Hundreds of locals were present at the cremation.

In the blast, three persons were martyred and eleven others were injured, the latter are receiving treatment at a Navy hospital.

The body of the Naval officer reached his home last night where locals were waiting for the arrival of the body since early morning despite biting cold and bad weather.

Dhatwalia left behind his mother, wife, and two daughters.

A pall of gloom descended upon the village and nearby areas when the sad news of the death of the officer was received through the media. People were visiting the house of the martyr paying tributes to the martyr and consoling the family members since then.

The martyr Dhatwalia was serving in the Indian Navy since the last 28 years.

ADM, Hamirpur, Jitendra Sanjta, SDM Badsar Shashi Pal Sharma, and a number of other local officers were also present at the crematorium.

A team of the Army jawans reversed their arms, fired shots in the air, and gave a final salute to the martyr.

Prominent people who were present at the cremation included ID Lakhanpal, local MLA, Baldev Sharma, former MLA and senior district level and sub-divisional level officers of various departments located at Badsar.

Union Information-cum-Broadcasting minister, Anurag Thakur, Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, Former HP Chief Minister, Prem Kumar Dhumal, local MLA, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, former MLA, Baldev Sharma, and leaders of all political parties, social and religious organizations have mourned the death of the martyr and have consoled the bereaved family.