Legendary sprinter Milkha Singh passed away on June 18 after testing negative for COVID-19. He had contracted the virus in May and was in a hospital in Punjab for quite some time. He was 91. On Saturday, Milkha Singh's last rites were performed with full state honours in Chandigarh. His son Jeev Milkha Singh lit the funeral pyre.
Several dignitaries, including union sports minister Kiren Rijiju, Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, and Haryana's Sports Minister Sandeep Singh were present for the last rites. Milkha Singh was laid to rest on the pyre with a picture of his wife, Nirmal Kaur, who passed away on June 13 due to COVID-19 complications.
The Padma Shri awardee is survived by three daughters Dr Mona Singh, Aleeza Grover, Sonia Sanwalka and son Jeev Milkha Singh. A film titled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was made on Milkha Singh's life. It was directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar played the lead role.
(Source: Instagram/Live Mint)
