Kalam's final journey LIVE: People's President laid to rest, nation bids a teary farewell
Hundreds of mourners fought back tears as they stood in serpentine queues for the final glimpse of former President APJ Abdul Kalam as he lay in state, back in his home town one last time.
The funeral of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who died of cardiac arrest in Shillong, was held on Thursday in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram with full state honours. The People's President's body, draped in the Indian tricolour was brought to the burial site at Pei Karumbu in a flower-bedecked gun carriage, escorted by columns of the three armed services.
PM Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and several other leaders attended Kalam's last rites.
Here are the LIVE updates:
11:25 am: People's President APJ Abdul Kalam laid to rest in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
11:15 am: PM Narendra Modi pays his final respects as thousands line up to pay homage to Kalam.
11:00 am: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam's body taken to burial ground.
10:45 am: Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm in view of the funeral of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
10:35 am: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam's funeral procession begins, PM Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi reach Rameswaram.
10:02 am: Kalam's body reaches mosque for prayers. From there the mortal remains will be carried to the burial site.
10:00 am: Preparations underway for former President Abdul Kalam's funeral at Rameswaram.
09:30 am: The state government has also ordered closure of liquor shops and bars.
09:20 am: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam's last rites are expected to be held at 11 am on Thursday.
09:00 am: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday sent a message to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj condoling the death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
08:27 am: The funeral is expected to be held in accordance with the wishes of the family of Kalam, whose elder brother Muthu Mohammed Meeran Marakkair (99) is said to have insisted that the last rites be held in Rameswaram.
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08:25 am: A 1.5 acre plot at Paikarumbu will be the final resting place for the 'People's President'.
08:17 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be attending the last rites of former President APJ Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram on Thursday.
08:15 am: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday announced her inability to travel to Rameswaram owing to her health condition. She also announced that the government had allotted land for burying Kalam's mortal remains at the request of his family.
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08:10 am: Security has been tightened at Rameswaram in view of the large number of people, including ministers and others, who are expected to attend Kalam's last rites.
08:07 am: Large number of people from different walks of life paid their last respect to former President APJ Abdul Kalam as his body was brought to his hometown on Wednesday evening.
08:00 am:
The Tamil Nadu government has also announced a public holiday "as a mark of respect" to the departed soul. The government "has decided" to announce public holiday on July 30 to private and government educational institutions and establishments under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, "as a mark of respect" to him, an official release said.
07:50 am: A seven-day state mourning has been declared by the government in honour of Kalam.
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07:45 am: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the 'Missile Man' who came to be known as 'People's President' passed away on July 27 after he collapsed during a lecture at the IIM-Shillong.
07:30 am: Kalam, who would have turned 84 in October, was confirmed dead more than two hours after he was wheeled into the ICU of Bethany hospital in a critical condition following the collapse at around 6.30 pm.