Udaipur: Payal Khateek from Gogunda in Udaipur, who died in the ill-fated Air India crash in Ahmedabad, was cremated in Gogunda by her family Thursday.Khateek’s body was handed over to her family after a DNA test Wednesday evening. Accompanied by the Gujarat police, her family brought the body back to Gogunda for cremation Thursday. As soon as the ambulance arrived in the village, Payal’s body was taken to her home, where her inconsolable grandmother paid her last respects. Tribal minister Babulal Kharadi, Udaipur rural MLA Phool Singh Meena, and BJP district president Pushkarlal Teli were present during the funeral. Payal, aged 22, dreamed of studying abroad. Her father, Suresh Bhai Khateek, drives a loading auto in Himmatnagar, where the family resides. Payal completed her B.Tech from Geetanjali College in Udaipur while staying with her aunt in Dabok. She also helped her parents by giving tuitions while living in Himmatnagar. On June 12, Payal reached Ahmedabad airport to fly to London, where her family bid her a joyful farewell. She was going to pursue M.Tech from London. Shortly after, the news of the plane crash turned their joy into sorrow.
