Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 25 : Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, on Monday, arrived at his hometown Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, where he was welcomed amid a huge uproar from children and supporters.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak received Shukla at the Lucknow Airport.
Afterwards, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla headed to City Montessori School in Gomtinagar where a felicitation ceremony has been organised for him.
Speaking to ANI, his mother stated that the entire family was visiting the airport to receive him, further stating that they were really excited to meet him after a long period of time.
"My son is coming home after 1.5 years. I am very happy and excited to meet him after so long. We will welcome him warmly. The entire family is going to the airport to welcome him..." the mother told ANI.
His sister stated that they had waited for this day for a very long time, further asserting that there was nothing merrier than him coming back home and being a motivation for several children in the country.
"I am very happy and excited. We were waiting for this day for a long time. He is finally coming home to Lucknow... This is the biggest achievement. All children and the whole of Lucknow will be there to welcome him home. Nothing can be merrier than this. People are showing him so much love, and he is motivating children..." the sister told ANI.
Shukla is the second Indian to reach space. He returned to Earth on July 15 after completing the NASA Axiom (AX-4) space mission and landed in Delhi on August 17.
A day earlier, he lauded the mission to the International Space Station and stated that the learning from the "big achievement" would pave the way for the execution of future missions in the country.
He expressed happiness after being felicitated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and mentioned that India is on its journey of a human space flight- Mission Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antriksh Station, and eventually, landing on the moon.
"Raksha Mantri felicitated me and I think this mission is a big achievement for our country and it happened at the right time. India is on its journey of a human space flight- Mission Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antriksh Station, and eventually, landing on moon," Shubhanshu Shukla told reporters.