Pahalgam Tragedy: Young Navy Officer Bid Farewell by Wife in Haryana

Chandigarh, April 23 (NationPress) Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who recently tied the knot just six days prior, was honored with a poignant farewell by his wife Himanshi on Wednesday evening in Karnal, Haryana, as she embraced his coffin, which was draped in the Tricolour.

The young officer was interred with full state honors. At just 26 years old, Lieutenant Narwal had wed on April 16 and was among the 26 victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir.

The couple was enjoying their honeymoon in Pahalgam when the tragedy struck. His wife, Himanshi, is originally from Gurugram.

Upon Lieutenant Narwal’s body arriving in Delhi earlier that day, his wife clutched his coffin and was overcome with sorrow.

“We will cherish his memory every single day... we should take pride in him,” she expressed, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face.

“I hope his soul finds peace. He deserves the best in the afterlife, and we will honor him in every possible way. It is because of him that we continue to endure,” she added.

Their wedding reception took place on April 19.

Originating from Bhusli village in the Karnal district, Lieutenant Narwal resided in Sector 7 of Karnal city. His remains were returned to his hometown later that evening, where final rites were conducted.

Lieutenant Narwal had joined the Navy three years earlier. He is survived by his father Rajesh Narwal, who works in the Excise Department, his mother Asha Narwal, his sister Srishti, and his grandfather Hawa Singh, a retired police officer.

His neighbor, Seema, recounted that Vinay’s wedding was celebrated with great enthusiasm.

“The celebrations lasted for 10 days. He was a wonderful person. He completed his engineering and successfully passed the Navy exam to become a Class I officer. They had plans for a honeymoon in Switzerland, but due to leave constraints, they opted for Kashmir instead. It all transpired so abruptly, almost as if it were cursed,” she reflected.

“We received the news last night. I can’t fathom what his family is enduring. His twin sister and father have gone to retrieve his body,” she commented.

“We saw videos where a girl was pleading with the terrorists to take her life too, but they responded, ‘we’re letting you go so you can inform Modi of what transpired,’” she added.

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini communicated with Lieutenant Narwal’s grandfather via video call, assuring the family that the state is unwavering in their support during this time of grief.

Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand, and Mayor Renu Bala Gupta also visited the family to pay their respects.

Former state Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda emphasized the need for a strong and decisive counteraction against those responsible for the attack.

Punjab Finance Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Harpal Cheema visited Karnal to honor Lieutenant Narwal. Speaking to the media, Cheema expressed profound sorrow over the loss of such a brave citizen.

“The Modi government must respond appropriately to foreign entities, including Pakistan, for their ongoing support of terrorism. We need stringent measures to prevent such cowardly acts and safeguard our citizens and courageous soldiers,” he stated.

Regarding the unprecedented targeting of tourists in the attack, Cheema characterized the incident as tragic and deeply concerning.

“This marks the first time tourists have been specifically targeted, making it an extraordinarily unfortunate event. The government must act swiftly and resolutely to guarantee the safety of all residents and visitors,” he remarked.

At least 26 tourists lost their lives on Tuesday after assailants opened fire on innocent civilians in Baisaran, Jammu and Kashmir.

Witness accounts indicate that a group of heavily armed terrorists emerged from the adjacent forests and indiscriminately shot at civilians, most of whom were tourists.

Baisran is a small meadow located three to four kilometers from the Pahalgam market, where tourists take horses to reach as there is no accessible road.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Wednesday morning, cutting short his trip to Saudi Arabia due to the terror attack.

He held a brief meeting with NSA Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the airport. PM Modi strongly condemned the terror attack on Tuesday, asserting that those responsible will face justice and reaffirming India’s “unshakeable” determination to combat terrorism.