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Kalam's body arrives in Delhi to the highest honour

by IBNS 28 Jul 2015, 12:51 am

New Delhi, Jul 28 (IBNS) The President and the Prime Minister skipped protocol as they received the body of former President APJ Abdul Kalam after it arrived in Delhi's Palam airport from Guwahati on Tuesday by a special aircraft.

Besides President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi the  chiefs of the Army, Navy and Airforce paid homage to the departed scientist-leader.

A tri-service guard of honour and a 21-gun salute was given as a mark of respect to Kalam.

Before that his body, draped in the national tri-colour, was carried out of the aircraft in a coffin by the chiefs and other high officials of the Army, Navy and Airforce.

The "Missile man" as he was known for his inventions during his stint as chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) died in Shillong on Mondayevening. He was 83.

He had also played a pivotal role in the  Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998.

He had collapsed while speaking at a prgoramme of Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.

His body was then brought to Guwahati to be kept overnight.

Kalam's body was taken from the airport to his residence at 10 Rajaji Marg, where people can pay homage to the People's President for two hours.

Last rites for  Kalam will be performed in his home town Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. His  body will be flown to Rameswaram  in early  evening.

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Tuesday  after paying tribute to Kalam. The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till July 30.

 The Union Cabinet will hold a special meeting in New Delhi today to condole  Kalam's death.

The government has declared a seven-day national mourningas a mark of respect for  Kalam.

As the nation mourned his death, PM Modi said in his tribute, "My mind is filled with so many memories, so many interactions with him. Always marvelled at his intellect, learnt so much from him."

Kalam was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Bharat Ratna for his achievements.