Amid continued ethnic unrest, Singson’s family chose Dimapur over Imphal to ensure a safe and dignified return for the beloved 26-year-old.
BY PC Bureau
The mortal remains of Lamnunthem Singson, a 26-year-old airhostess from Manipur’s Kuki-Zo community who tragically perished in the Air India Flight AI171 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, arrived at Dimapur Airport on Thursday afternoon. The somber occasion was marked by a moving condolence service organized by the Kuki Union Dimapur, attended by grieving family members, community leaders, and representatives from the Naga Council Dimapur and the Airport Authority of India.
Originally from Old Lambulane in Imphal, Singson had relocated to Kangpokpi district after ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023. She was one of two flight attendants from Manipur who lost their lives in the London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash that claimed 241 lives, leaving only one survivor. Her body, identified through DNA testing, was flown from Ahmedabad to Dimapur on an IndiGo flight, accompanied by her two elder brothers and a cousin.
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In the early hours of Thursday, two separate groups departed Kangpokpi to receive her remains. The first, comprising immediate family members, close relatives, and local civil society leaders, left around 5:00 AM. The second, organized by the Kuki Students’ Organisation Sadar Hills and the Sadar Hills Private Schools’ Association, followed at 7:30 AM in a convoy of nearly ten vehicles. The decision to bring her remains through Dimapur, instead of Imphal, stemmed from persistent ethnic tensions that have made travel to the Meitei-dominated valley unsafe for Kuki-Zo residents.
𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐧𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐨𝐧: 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
Since the arrival of Lamnunthem Singson’s mortal remains at Dimapur Airport, people from all… pic.twitter.com/IiGnSFulDM
— Aboriginal_Kuki (@AboriginalKuki) June 19, 2025
At Dimapur Airport, the Kuki Union Dimapur led an emotional condolence ceremony. Tears flowed freely as community members mourned the loss of Singson, the sole breadwinner of her family. Her cousin, T. Thanglingo Haokip, told the BBC that both her mother and younger brother were entirely dependent on her. Known affectionately as “Neonu” by her mother, Singson was remembered as a symbol of resilience and determination.
Following the service, the funeral entourage, escorted by the Eimi Riders Nagaland from Dimapur to Mao Gate and then by Eimi Riders Kukiland along National Highway 2, began the journey to Kangpokpi. The convoy is expected to reach late in the evening, around 9:00 or 10:00 PM, with several short condolence halts planned along the way due to poor road conditions. The Kuki Students’ Organisation and other Kangpokpi-based civil society groups have taken charge of the reception to ensure her final journey is one of dignity and community honor.
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Singson’s death, along with that of fellow Manipuri flight attendant Nganthoi K Sharma from the Meitei community, has sparked a rare moment of unity in deeply divided Manipur. Civil society groups from both the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities have expressed solidarity. The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) called for mutual respect in commemorating the two women. However, Kuki groups’ decision to avoid Imphal underscores the continuing safety concerns and challenges posed by the state’s ethnic divide.
Now living in a rented house in Kangpokpi after being displaced from Imphal, Singson’s family is left grappling with immense grief and uncertainty. Her cousin, Goulun Singson, told India Today that the family’s last conversation with her was on June 11, when she excitedly spoke about her upcoming London flight.
As Kangpokpi prepares to bid farewell, the Kuki-Zo community stands in mourning — but also in strength — remembering Lamnunthem Singson not just as a tragic victim, but as a beloved daughter whose legacy will endure in their shared resilience and hope.
