DEHRADUN: The suburb of Selaqui in Dehradun was enveloped in grief on Sunday as the community mourned the loss of squadron leader Prashant Singh, who died in an An-32 crash in Assam's Jorhat along with four others. His sister Nivedita, speaking about her brother's final moments, expressed immense pride that he had ensured the survival of his co-pilot. Nivedita's husband is a serving Army officer.
The house that Prashant built around four years ago, where he envisioned living with his wife Aishwarya and parents in the future, saw a steady stream of visitors from across the country on Sunday. When the officer's body arrived in a coffin in the evening, his mother was inconsolable, while his father stood silently in a state of profound shock.
Family Background
Prashant's mother, Brijesh Devi, is a cancer survivor who underwent surgery last year. His father, Umesh Singh, served in the Army before venturing into business post-retirement. Prashant completed his schooling in Dehradun and pursued electrical and communication engineering at THDC-Institute of Hydropower Engineering and Technology (IHET), Tehri.
According to Nivedita, Prashant was placed in a multinational company but chose to join the Air Force due to his deep interest in serving the country. His cousin Anurag Tomar, who serves in the BSF and is posted in Tripura, recalled their childhood memories, describing Prashant as calm, thoughtful, and mature with a deep love for books and learning.
Neighbour's Tribute
Pinky Malik, a neighbour who knew the family well, revealed that Prashant's mother had not celebrated her birthday after he joined the services in 2020. She would say, 'How can I celebrate when my son is serving the country at the border? Every moment of a pilot's life is fraught with risk.'
The Air Force officer was cremated with full military honours late Sunday evening. Stay updated with the latest Dehradun news. Download the TOI App.
About the Author: Shivani Azad is a TOI journalist who covers Environment, Wildlife, Medical and Social subjects.
