Niraj Udhwani, a 33-year-old Indian expat from Dubai, was laid to rest in Jaipur on Thursday morning. A close family member confirmed that his cremation took place at 10am. A terror attack killed Niraj during his vacation in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
His body was transported from Kashmir to Jaipur on Wednesday. Several relatives and friends flew in from Dubai to attend the ceremony. They gathered to support the grieving family and pay their last respects.
Niraj had been living in Dubai for many years. He worked as a finance professional with the Cognita school group. He had traveled to India with his wife to attend a friend’s wedding in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. After the wedding, the couple decided to spend a few days in Kashmir.
Niraj visited Pahalgam on vacation
According to a family member, they had just arrived in Pahalgam when the attack took place. Niraj was shot during the incident and died on the spot. His wife, who was traveling with him, survived the attack.
Originally from Jaipur, Niraj had moved to Dubai as a child. He studied at The Indian High School, Dubai and later became a chartered accountant. His colleagues and friends described him as brilliant, sincere, and kind-hearted.
A friend who attended the same wedding expressed deep sorrow. “Niraj and his wife stayed behind for a short vacation,” he said. “We are shocked and heartbroken by what happened. It still doesn’t feel real.”
Tributes have poured in from across the Indian community in Dubai and India. On social media, CAclubindia, a platform for chartered accountants, expressed their condolences.
“We deeply mourn the tragic loss of Neeraj Udhwani in the recent Pahalgam terror attack. He was due to return to Dubai this week. Our thoughts are with his family and friends in this painful time.”
Some of his friends are also planning to attend his final rites in Jaipur. One of them shared, “We are sorting our travel plans.
As the community mourns his loss, memories of Niraj continue to live on. A friend concluded, “He was one of the most genuine people I’ve known. We will never forget him.”
