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The legendary Olympian turned critical on Friday evening after he developed complications, including fever and dropping of oxygen saturation level
Chandigarh, June 18
Milkha Singh, the Flying Sikh, has flown — and it’s clear that there will be none like him again. The 91-year-old’s fight with Covid-19 ended late Friday night at the PGI, where he had been undergoing treatment for the dreaded virus which took his wife Nirmal’s life five days ago.
He will be cremated at 5 pm on Saturday with full state honours.
His mortal remains have been kept at his Sector 8 residence.
Milkha Singh, who tested positive for Covid-19 on May 20 after a domestic help at his residence was found infected, was initially admitted to a Mohali hospital before being brought home on May 30. However, he was admitted to the PGI after his oxygen levels fell.
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Milkha’s death brings the curtain down on the extraordinary story of this remarkable athlete, whose exploits were retold to the new generation through cinema with the movie Bhag Milkha Bhag. Born in Gobindpura — now in Pakistan — on November 30, 1928, Milkha was violently uprooted from his birthplace by the Partition when riots took the lives of his parents, two sisters and a brother. His life changed for the better when Milkha joined the Army, and it was in this institution that his amazing talent was identified and nurtured. Milkha became the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in the 400m division at Cardiff in 1958. The same year he did the 200m-400m double at the Tokyo Asian Games. His most famous race, however, is the 400m final at the 1964 Olympic Games, where he was one of the favourites to get a medal — which he missed by a whisker, ending up fourth. After his career ended, Milkha became a sports administrator.
He is survived by one son — golfer Jeev Milkha Singh — and three daughters.
The legendary Olympian turned critical on Friday evening after he developed complications, including fever and dropping of oxygen saturation level
Chandigarh, June 18
Milkha Singh, the Flying Sikh, has flown — and it’s clear that there will be none like him again. The 91-year-old’s fight with Covid-19 ended late Friday night at the PGI, where he had been undergoing treatment for the dreaded virus which took his wife Nirmal’s life five days ago.
He will be cremated at 5 pm on Saturday with full state honours.
His mortal remains have been kept at his Sector 8 residence.
Milkha Singh, who tested positive for Covid-19 on May 20 after a domestic help at his residence was found infected, was initially admitted to a Mohali hospital before being brought home on May 30. However, he was admitted to the PGI after his oxygen levels fell.
Photos from THE TRIBUNE ARCHIVE
Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, June 19
The legend of Milkha Singh is one of the most inspiring stories in Indian sports. Here are some rare pictures that capture the amazing journey of the legend who rightly earned the sobriquet of the Flying Sikh.
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Flying Sikh Milkha Singh dies of Covid complications at 91
Bollywood mourns demise of Milkha Singh
Part of me is still refusing to accept that you are no more: Farhan Akhtar remembers Milkha Singh
91-year-old Milkha Singh passes away into eternity days after wife’s death | City mourns the legendary athlete
ribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 18
After struggling for nearly a month, legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh passed away at the PGI here tonight. The Flying Sikh breathed his last at 11.30 pm.
“With extreme sadness we would like to inform you that Milkha Singh ji passed away at 11.30 pm on June 18, 2021,” read a statement issued by the Milkha family.
“He fought hard but God has his ways and it was perhaps true love and companionship that both our mother, Nirmal ji, and now dad have passed away in a matter of five days,” read the statement.
Milkha’s wife, Nirmal Milkha, a former captain of the Indian women’s volleyball team, died on June 13 due to complications related to Covid-19. “We are deeply indebted to doctors at the PGI for their valiant efforts and the love and prayers we received from across the world,” the statement added.
Earlier in the day, Milkha’s health deteriorated due to fever, followed by desaturation and low pulse.
Legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh was admitted to the ICU of the Covid hospital at the PGI on June 3, 2021, and was treated for Covid there till June 13, said PGI spokesperson Prof Ashok Kumar. “After putting up a valiant battle with Covid, Milkha Singh tested negative. However, due to post-Covid complications he was shifted out of the Covid hospital to a medical ICU. Despite best of the efforts by the medical team, Milkha Singh ji could not be retrieved,” said Prof Kumar.
Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGI, expressed condolences on the demise of the “most revered sporting icon”. “He will be remembered for his exceptional accomplishments on and off the field and his endearing and humane personality,” he said.
A True Love story
With Milkha dying five days after his wife Nirmal passed away, the never forgetting love story continues. While Nirmal was leading the Indian volleyball team in Sri Lanka, Milkha had gone there to compete in an athletics meet. Later, they met at the College of Physical Education, Patiala. The then Punjab Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon is believed to have intervened to get Milkha and Nirmal married. Since then, the couple was never separated.
Had special place in hearts of indians: PM
}In the passing away of Milkha Singh ji, we have lost a colossal sportsperson, who captured the nation’s imagination and had a special place in the hearts of countless Indians. Anguished by his passing away. Narendra Modi, PM
India has lost its star: Rijiju
}India has lost its star. Milkha Singh ji has left us but he will continue to inspire every Indian to shine for India. Kiren Rijiju, Union Sports Minister
High Court picks holes in Delhi Police chargesheet
Granting bail to student activists Natasha Narwal, Asif Iqbal Tanha and Devangana Kalita, the Delhi High Court has made it clear that the right to protest is guaranteed by the Constitution, and it must not be conflated with terrorism. Booked under the stern Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged involvement in riots in East Delhi last year, the three were incarcerated for over a year. A three-member Bench of the High Court ruled that Delhi Police’s chargesheet against them had allegations that ‘stretched inferences’ and had ‘alarming and hyperbolic verbiage’. Narwal and Kalita are accused of conspiracy to plan riots and destabilise the government on the pretext of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), while Tanha was accused of planning and organising protests across Delhi.
There was one underlying theme in three separate judgments on the accused — that Delhi Police had failed to provide any evidence to support the grave charges of terrorism or inciting violence. In the case of Narwal and Kalita, the Bench observed that the allegations against them ‘are not even borne out’ by the material on which they are based; in the case of Tanha, the Bench ruled that ‘there is absolutely nothing’ in the chargesheet that might link him to terrorism. The court noted that ‘it seems that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the state, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred’. ‘If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy,’ it added.
Democracy is strengthened, not weakened, by plurality of opinion and the freedom to express it. Democracy is weakened when wild allegations of terrorism and sedition are foisted on people to muzzle them. As the High Court noted, ‘The foundations of our nation stand on surer footing than to be likely to be shaken by a protest, however vicious, organised by a tribe of college students or other persons’. People protesting peacefully for their ideals are an important element of a democracy — invoking the most severe penal provisions against them belittles democracy and trivialises terrorism.
Chandigarh, June 17
A new book, “With Honour and Glory: Five Great Artillery Battles”, that weaves a coherent narrative of the evolution of artillery and the lessons to be imbibed from the historic battles in which big guns played a decisive role has been authored by Maj Gen AJS ‘Abdo’ Sandhu (retd).
The book has been published under the aegis of the United Services Institute of India’s Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies. It was released by Lt Gen Raj Shukla, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command, who is the senior-most serving officer of the Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery.
Spanning iconic artillery battles across four continents and 136 years, it includes the battles of Gettysburg (1863), Vimy Ridge (1917), Bir Hacheim (1942), Chhamb (1971) and Tololing/Tiger Hill (1999).
The project to write a book of such depth and span was conceived by the Directorate of Artillery, Army HQs, and handed over to the USI for execution. The first print of the book has been distributed by the Directorate of Artillery to the School of Artillery, Devlali, and all formations and regiments of the artillery, and the second print will soon be made available in the public domain. — TNS
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New Delhi: Amid the continuing stalemate with China at the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh and an increased deployment of troops in several extreme high altitude areas, the Army is looking at raising procurement of special clothing and mountaineering equipment.
In a list released Thursday, the Army projected figures of higher procurement of 17 types of special clothing and mountaineering equipment.
According to defence sources, the Army will give priority to Indian manufacturers, who make the said equipment, in the spirit of the Make of India initiative.
Currently, most of these items are imported from other countries.
However, with the “second positive indigenisation list” of 108 items notified by the Ministry of Defence last month, special clothing and mountaineering equipment will have to be procured from indigenous sources starting January 2023, according to provisions given in the Defence
According to the latest list, the Army has projected an annual requirement of 50,000 to 90,000 sets of Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System and a similar number of special sleeping bags, rucksacks, summer suit for super high altitude area, multipurpose boots and snow goggles.
Additional requirements include about 12,000 special woollen socks, about three lakh sets of two- and three-layer gloves, about 500 High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) chambers, which is a mandatory requirement for providing emergency treatment to soldiers deployed in extreme cold and high altitude areas.
Along with this, the Army has projected an annual requirement of 3,000 to 5,000 avalanche airbags and a similar number of avalanche victim detectors.
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A senior Army officer said the equipment projected is extensively used in Siachen and other super high altitude areas.
“Every individual being inducted is given a fresh set of such clothing and with the additional troops an annual requirement of approximately 30,000 such sets is expected,” the officer told ThePrint on condition of anonymity.
“While jackets, trousers and gloves are a part of the personal protective equipment of a soldier, avalanche victim detectors and avalanche cords are rescue equipment while HAPO bags are essential life saving equipment,” the officer said.
A second officer explained that there are more casualties in Siachen and many higher super high altitude posts due to weather as compared to enemy action.
According to data shared in the Parliament, 74 Army personnel had died due to avalanches in three years till 2019.
“This clothing and equipment is essential to protect the soldier from the elements and assist in his duties. It is currently being procured from various countries and especially due to the sudden situation last year, emergency procurement was made from few countries as they were not available with Indian manufacturers,” said the second officer, who didn’t wish to be named.
Last year, after thousands of additional troops were inducted in eastern Ladakh in the months after the military stand-off between India and China began, special high altitude winter clothing were purchased urgently from the US under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement between the two countries.
Over the years, special clothing, tents and other equipment has been purchased from Austria, Italy, the Scandinavian countries, Australia and Sri Lanka, among others.
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The kin of Sepoy Jagraj Singh at his cremation in Bathinda.
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, June 16
Soldier Jagraj Singh (26), who breathed his last at the Military Hospital in Chandimandir on June 14, was cremated with state honours at Sheikhpura village on Wednesday.
A large number of locals bid farewell to Jagraj Singh, who was the only son of a poor farmer. He had been serving the 23rd Sikh Battalion of the Army for the past seven years.
Jagraj Singh’s mother Jasveer Kaur and father Major Singh said Jagraj had joined the Sikh Regiment after passing Class XII.
Jagraj Singh’s elder sister Manpreet Kaur is a Punjab Police employee.
Jagraj Singh’s regiment is currently in Rajasthan. He was injured during training in Rajasthan on June 5 and was taken to Suratgarh Hospital by the Army, but was later airlifted to the Chandimandir Military Hospital. He underwent an operation for his injuries, but passed away on June 14.
New Delhi, June 17
Twelve roads built by the BRO in the northern and eastern border areas were thrown open by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today.
At an event in Lakhimpur district of Assam, the Defence Minister e-inaugurated a 20-km double-laned Kimin-Potin road along with nine other roads in Arunachal Pradesh and one each in the Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
He said the roads inaugurated today hold strategic and socio-economic importance as they would play an important role in strengthening national security as well as promoting development of the North-East region.
Singh said the development of North-East, was not only the overall development of the country, but also to the nation’s relations with East Asian countries.
DG Border Roads Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry gave a brief overview of the BRO’s achievements. — TNS
