Mourning in Manipur: Nganthoi Sharma’s Final Journey Home
Summary of the News Article
The people of Manipur gathered in their thousands to pay a heartfelt farewell to Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, a 21-year-old Air India cabin crew member from Thoubal, who tragically died in the crash of Air India Flight AI 171 on June 12. Her body arrived at Imphal Airport on June 22 and was received by grieving family members, government officials, and the public in a solemn procession to her hometown. Final rites were performed according to Meitei customs, marking a state-wide moment of collective mourning
1. The Heart-Wrenching Arrival
Picture this: a young woman, ready to fly halfway across the world, all ambition and dreams. Suddenly, time stops. Her body arrives not as a triumphant traveler, but as an emblem of sorrow. On June 22, Imphal Airport became a sea of grief—tears, prayers, and petals greeting the remains of Nganthoi Sharma. It was a moment where the entire state paused in reverence .
2. Who Was Nganthoi Sharma? – A Glimpse of Her Life
Born in 2004, she was the middle sister in a humble family in Thoubal Awang Leikai. She shone academically, clearing NEET and then choosing the skies over medical school. By 17, she’d secured a spot in Air India’s 2023 intake—one of the youngest cabin crew. She was based in Mumbai, flying international routes, and known for her quiet determination and resilience
Her farewell message, sent before departure—“I’m going to London. In a few minutes, we’ll take off. We may not be able to talk for a while as it’s an international flight.” —echoes now as a haunting final note.
3. A State in Sorrow – The Procession & Funeral
From the airport to Thoubal, thousands lined the streets. Some stood in silence, others wept softly. Flower petals rained upon the procession, prayers filled the air. It was a state-wide embrace of grief—united in sorrow, united in love
At the cremation grounds in Thoubal Awang Leikai, Meitei rituals structured the farewell—a ceremony both personal and cultural, intimate and public.
4. The Bigger Loss: Fellow Crew Members Also Mourned
Earlier that week, the body of Lamnunthem Singson, 26, another cabin crew member from Kangpokpi, was brought home. Due to ethnic unrest, her remains traveled via Dimapur in Nagaland, not Imphal. Her funeral drew similar heartbreak—a candle-lit vigil, long procession, and collective grief across communities
Two young women, two flights into danger, two hearts shattered amidst state-wide anguish.
FAQs
1. Why were thousands present at her funeral?
Her death mirrored a shared aspiration—youth rising beyond constraints. Thousands mourned both her story and the loss of hope.
2. How did ethnicity affect funerals?
Lamnunthem Singson’s body avoided Imphal due to ongoing ethnic unrest; it was diverted via Dimapur, showing how conflict still touches the personal
3. Is there state assistance for such grief?
Not yet in Manipur. However, Assam’s ‘Shradhanjali’ scheme aims to repatriate bodies in dignified ways; Manipur could adopt similar policies .
4. What support do affected families need?
Emotional counseling, financial aid, community backing, and clear communication about investigation progress—these help families navigate their grief journey.
5. How will these tragedies change policy?
Expect pressure for aviation safety reviews, better crisis response protocols, and frameworks ensuring respectful repatriation and mourning for remote communities.
