The last rites of N Ramachandran, a Kerala native who was killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, were conducted with state honours at the Shanthikavadam Crematorium in Edappally, Kochi, on Friday, April 25.
Ramachandran’s mortal remains were brought to Kochi on Wednesday and kept at the Renai Medicity Hospital mortuary until the arrival of his brother from the United States. Before the cremation, his body was taken to Changampuzha Park at 7 am for public viewing and then to his residence on Mangattu Road for final respects.
Ramachandran had travelled to Kashmir on April 21 with his family — including his wife Sheela, daughter Aarti, and grandchildren — for a vacation. The terror attack occurred a day later, on April 22. At the time of the attack, Ramachandran was accompanied by his daughter Aarti and her twin sons. Sheela, who is a cardiac patient, was shielded from the news of his death until the family returned to Kerala.
Recounting the harrowing experience, Aarti said she had to flee the attack site on foot with her two sons for nearly an hour before she could find mobile signal coverage and call for help. She added that two Kashmiri men came to their aid and stayed with them throughout, saying, “It felt like I found two brothers in Kashmir.”
Hundreds of people paid homage to Ramachandran, including prominent individuals like, Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, State ministers P Rajeeve, A K Saseendran, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, MLAs Anwar Sadath, K N Unnikrishnan and KJ Maxy, and District Collector NSK Umesh.