State funeral for IAF Marshal on Monday

A state funeral will be accorded to Marshal of Indian Air Force (IAF) Arjan Singh on Monday and the national flag will fly at half-mast, the government said.

Arjan Singh was the first five star officer of the IAF and was for a long time the only living five star officer.

A Home Ministry statement statement said the last rites of Arjan Singh would be performed at Brar Square in the Delhi Cantonment area at 10 a.m. on Monday.

As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, a state funeral will be accorded and the national flag will fly at half-mast on the day of the funeral in Delhi on all buildings where it is flown regularly, the statement said.

The cortege with mortal remains of Arjan Singh leave his 7 Kautilya Marg residence at 8.30 a.m.

A gun salute will also be given. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said if weather permits, there will also be a flypast to pay last respects to the national hero.

The final rites will start from 9.30 a.m.

Arjan Singh, who led the air operations in the 1965 war with Pakistan, died at the Army Research and Referral Hospital here on Saturday. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 98.

--IANS

ao/him/mr