Preparations begin for Kalam's funeral

July 30, 2015 10:37

In Rameswaram, preparations for former President APJ Abdul Kalam's funeral begin even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from the Madurai airport to Rameswaram.

An hour earlier, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi arrived at the Madurai Airport to board a chopper to Rameswaram. He was accompanied by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. Other VIPs heading to Rameswaram from Madurai were Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

Dr Kalam's funeral is to be held at 11 am and will be laid to rest with full state honours.

Yesterday, the mortal remains of the former president were brought to his hometown of Rameswaram as a large number of people converged to get a last glimpse of the departed leader. The helicopter carrying Kalams body touched down at the specially laid helipad at nearby Mandapam around 4 pm.

Earlier, the body of the former president, who passed away on Monday, was brought to Madurai from New Delhi by a special aircraft. Draped in the tri-colour, Kalams body was taken by road in an army vehicle with people lining up on both sides of the 10-km stretch to take a glimpse and pay respects.

Around 2,000 police and security personnel have been deployed in the town for managing the situation.

Picture: Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com

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