Kalam’s body flown to Rameswaram from Delhi

New Delhi/Chennai, July 29

The mortal remains of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam were on Wednesday flown from Delhi to be taken to his hometown Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.

Several top leaders were present at the Palam airport, from where the body was flown out of Delhi in a C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

The body of India’s ‘Missile Man’ was brought in a gun carriage from his 10, Rajaji Marg residence.

According to Defence Ministry Spokesperson Sitanshu Kar, the mortal remains will be flown to Madurai, from where a helicopter of the Indian Air Force will take it to Rameswaram in the afternoon.

In Rameswaram, the body will be kept for people to pay homage till 7 p.m.

The cremation will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

Jaya not to attend Kalam’s funeral, deputes 7 colleagues    

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said she would not attend the last rites of former President A P J Abdul Kalam in Rameswaram owing to her health condition and has deputed seven Cabinet colleagues to represent her and the state government at the funeral.

“I have great love and respect for Mr A P J Abdul Kalam.

“It is my desire to attend his funeral and pay respects to him. However, due to my health condition I am unable to undertake a journey,” she said in a statement.

The Chief Minister deputed the top four Ministers of her cabinet—O Panneerselvam, Natham R Viswanathan (Electricity), R Vaithilingam (Housing) and Edappady K Palaniswamy (Highways) to pay respects to the former President tomorrow on her behalf and the Tamil Nadu government.

Ministers for Higher Education, Youth Welfare and Sports and Revenue, P Palaniappan, S Sundararaj and R B Uthayakumar, respectively, will also pay respects, she added.

“I have also directed that a public holiday be declared tomorrow as a mark of respect to Kalam,” she added.