Jaspal Bhatti cremated in Chandigarh

A pall of gloom descended on the streets here as word spread about the tragic demise of satirist and filmmaker Jaspal Bhatti, whose mortal remains were consigned to flames following his death in a road accident today.

Jaspal Bhatti (57) breathed his last at a Jalandhar hospital, suffering serious head injuries after his car rammed into a tree near Shahkot in Nakodar area of the district at 2:30 AM. People from all sections of the society reached house number 3040 located in Sector 19 D where Mr Bhatti resided along with his family.

His wife Savita showed enough courage before people at an hour of deep crisis for the family. "He (Jaspal Bhatti) used to send social messages through his satire with lot of perfection," she was heard telling the mourners visiting the house.

"He was a courageous man," she said, adding that he never feared the threatening calls he used to receive at times from certain quarters for making fun of them. She recalled that Mr Bhatti never behaved like a celebrity and was always down to earth.

Mr Bhatti's son Jasraj, who was at the wheel at the time of accident, was the first to reach his house in an ambulance from DMC Ludhiana. He entered the house on a stretcher and appeared shell shocked at the turn of events.

Later, Mr Bhatti's body was brought from Jalandhar civil hospital in an ambulance, followed by a Punjab police vehicle. His remains were consigned to flames by his son Jasraj at the cremation ground this evening.

A large number of people with moist eyes bid farewell to the man who never missed an opportunity to make a satire on current issues.

Prominent among those who attended the cremation included Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Punjab Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Punjab Chief Minister's media advisor Harcharan Singh Bains and artistes from Punjabi film fraternity including Gurdas Mann, Jasbir Jassi, Mehar Mittal and Gurpreet Ghuggi.

Mr Bhatti, who became popular with his satirical shows during the golden days of Doordarshan, was on a tour to promote his upcoming film Power Cut when the accident took place.

The film's lead actress Surilie Gautam and PRO Navneet Joshi were also injured in the mishap, police said.