The last rites of Havildar Satpal Rai, who lost his life in the copter crash that killed India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and 11 more on December 8, were held at his native place in Maneydhura, Takdah, on Monday.

The site is around 25km from Darjeeling town.

His mortal remains had arrived at the Bagdogra airport on Sunday and reached his Takdah home at night.

On Monday, hundreds gathered to pay him their last tribute. He was buried at a place in his village.

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, MLA Neeraj Zimba, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha chief Anit Thapa and a number of other political leaders from hills, as well as Trinamul veteran Gautam Deb, who chairs the board of administrators of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, were present at the funeral.

Rai is survived by Bickal, his son who is also in the Indian army, wife Mandira, daughter Muskan and mother Santu Maya.