A large gathering of mourners assembled at Devthi village to pay their respects as veteran Congress politician Nand Lal was laid to rest with full state honours. Representing the Rampur assembly constituency in Shimla district for four consecutive terms, the senior leader had also been serving as the chairman of the Seventh State Finance Commission. His son performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre, while cabinet minister Jagat Singh Negi stepped forward as one of the pallbearers carrying the mortal remains.
Top State Leadership Gathers in Devthi
The funeral drew senior representatives from the state government and the ruling party. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, and state Congress president Vinay Kumar arrived in the ancestral village to offer tributes. Cabinet ministers Vikramaditya Singh, Rohit Thakur, and Jagat Singh Negi were also in attendance, unitedly expressing grief and describing the loss as a tremendous setback for both the party and the people of Rampur.
Remembered for Dignity and Public Service
Recalling his long association with the departed lawmaker, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu praised his gentle demeanour and balanced approach to public life. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated, "He was blessed with an extremely gentle nature and a fine personality." Sukhu highlighted how Nand Lal consistently relied on polite expression, structured logic, and verified facts whenever presenting public demands. The Chief Minister noted that Nand Lal had contributed substantially to the modernization of his home constituency since the tenure of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, persistently championing regional development before the administration.
Critical Hospital Care and Final Moments
Sharing details regarding the leader's final medical treatment, the Chief Minister recalled visiting him on Monday at Chamiana hospital to consult the attending doctors. Medical personnel had indicated that Nand Lal's blood pressure had dropped drastically to dangerous levels between 30 and 40. Although clinicians managed to bring the reading back up to the 80 to 90 range by fitting a temporary pacemaker, his general condition failed to stabilize further. The lawmaker eventually breathed his last at roughly 5:30 AM on Tuesday.
From Paramilitary Service to the State Assembly
Before launching his extensive political journey, Nand Lal had served the nation in uniform as a member of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, known as the ITBP. After opting for voluntary retirement from the force, he redirected his energy into grassroots politics. His electoral record remained unblemished following his initial triumph in 2007, securing four consecutive assembly election victories from Rampur. Widely known for his personal connection with the local populace and his focus on local infrastructure, his passing leaves a significant void in the regional leadership.
