Dr APJ Abdul Kalam laid to rest in Rameswaram: As it happened

New Delhi: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, fondly known as the 'People's President', was laid to rest in his hometown Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu on Thursday. The former president, who died of cardiac arrest in Shillong on Monday evening, was accorded full state honours in presence of PM Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and several other leaders and dignitaries from around the world. Here are the live updates: -

30 July 2015

15:07 PM

Union Health Minister JP Nadda was among several NDA govt members who paid their tribute to Dr Kalam on Twitter today.

Dr Kalam may not be with us physically anymore but his life & work will continue to ignite minds & hearts of millions pic.twitter.com/cH97S4vEcE

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda_bjp) July 30, 2015

13:58 PM

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu also took to Twitter to share his thoughts and pay tribute to Dr Kalam.

Bid adieu to Kalam garu. He left behind a great legacy for India. We should strive to make India a superpower that he dreamt of. RIP.

— N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) July 30, 2015

13:39 PM

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu paid tribute to late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

12:34 PM

The funeral proceedings are over.

Leaders observe two-minutes silence in the memory of the former President.

Family members of Kalam and Muslims offer prayers at his burial site.

12:27 PM

Kar tweets another picture showing how entire nation bids adieu to 'son of India' Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Nation bids farewell to #PeoplesPresident #APJAbdulKalam pic.twitter.com/GDOcTI6DOp

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

12:14 PM

MoD Spokesperson Sitanshu Kar tweets another picture of Dr Kalam's burial.

Late President Dr #APJAbdulKalam laid to rest in hometown #Rameswaram with full state honours. pic.twitter.com/J1DBYDDnnN

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

12:13 PM

Tamil Nadu government has allotted land for a memorial for Dr Abdul Kalam, claim reports.

12:04 PM

PM Modi offers condolences to the family of late president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

PM offers condolences to the family of Late President @APJAbdulKalam pic.twitter.com/btQq0G7tkS

— PIB India (@PIB_India) July 30, 2015

12:02 PM

Over 1 lakh people witness the burial of former president APJ Abdul Kalam.

Burial of Former President APJ Abdul Kalam takes place pic.twitter.com/rFeFEQMq6F

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 30, 2015

11:43 AM

Friends and former colleagues of Abdul Kalam pay their last respects.

Service Chiefs pay last respects to President Kalam at Rameswaram.

Tri-services personnel ceremoiously remove the national flag from the body of the former President.

11:40 AM

MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan took to Twitter to pay his last respects to Dr Kalam.

Emotional moments for all of us as we bid adieu to #KalamSir, your memories will always remain etched in our hearts to inspire us.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) July 30, 2015

11:37 AM

Kerala CM Oomen Chandy and Kerala Governor P Sathasivam at the last rites ceremony of Dr Kalam.

Kerala CM Oomen Chandy and Kerala Governor P Sathasivam at the last rites ceremony of #DrKalam pic.twitter.com/Bxtd5gWpSI

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 30, 2015

11:29 AM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to Dr Kalam.

Rahul Gandhi at last rites ceremony of #DrKalam pic.twitter.com/O41oe9RusC

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 30, 2015

11:24 AM

Kar tweets picture of PM saluting the departed leader.

PM @narendramodi paying respect to the #PeoplesPresident #APJAbdulKalam pic.twitter.com/MjEIbvITqq

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

Defence Minister @manoharparrikar pays his last respects to #PeoplesPresident pic.twitter.com/8EYZ7tFS1C

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

Tri-Services contingent in attendance at funeral ground #Rameswaram pic.twitter.com/HeevaSbJFK

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

11:23 AM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several VVIPs pay their last respects to former President APJ Abdul Kalam before he is laid to rest.

11:13 AM

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm in view of the funeral of former president APJ Abdul Kalam.

11:01 AM

Another tweet by Sitanshu Kar:

Farewell to #PeoplesPresident ...#Rameswaram pic.twitter.com/STBJED98ZY

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

10:59 AM

MOD spokesperson tweeted another pic of the burial pit.

The Burial Pit...#Rameswaram pic.twitter.com/JwLgSQLOwT

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

10:55 AM

PM Modi has also arrived in Rameswaram for former president Dr Kalam's funeral.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has arrived in Pekkarumpu to pay homage to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Casket taken in gun-carriage to burial ground. Thousands join Dr Abdul Kalam's funeral procession.

10:43 AM

Another tweet by Kar: Tri-Services ceremonial contingent lining up for the State Funeral of APJ Abdul Kalam

Tri-Services ceremonial contingent lining up for the State Funeral of #APJAbdulKalam pic.twitter.com/URt6vNKsKH

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

10:42 AM

A view of massive crowd at the funeral of Dr Kalam, tweets Kar.

The crowd at the funeral of #APJAbdulKalam at #Rameswaram pic.twitter.com/4A3dcFTJL0

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

10:41 AM

Kar tweeted another picture of the final resting place for APJ Abdul Kalam.

The final resting place for #PeoplesPresident #APJAbdulKalam. pic.twitter.com/a4FUh2xoSo

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

10:28 AM

Sitanshu Kar, Spokesperson, Ministry of Defence tweeted: A view of Rameswaram a short while ago, where the last rites of APJ Abdul Kalam will be held.

A view of #Rameswaram a short while ago, where the last rites of #PeoplesPresident #APJAbdulKalam will be held. pic.twitter.com/TbYq66qQIo

— Sitanshu Kar (@SpokespersonMoD) July 30, 2015

10:18 AM

Kalam's family members have also reached here. "All our relatives have also arrived to attend the last rites," APJ MK Sheik Saleem, the former president's brother's grandson, said.

Movie theatre owners too have decided to shut down while fishermen have decided not to venture into the sea.

As a mark of respect for the departed leader, political parties like the DMK and the AIADMK have cancelled their functions.

09:58 AM

Kalam's body reaches mosque for prayers. From there the mortal remains will be carried to the burial site.

The state government has also ordered closure of liquor shops and bars.

09:49 AM

Former president Dr Abdul Kalam's close aide Sijanpal Singh pays tribute to his 'mentor.'

PM Modi is expected to reach Rameswaram at around 10.30 am to attend Dr Kalam's funeral.

09:18 AM

As per reports, PM Modi has left for Rameswaram to attend Dr Kalam's funeral. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu are already in Rameswaram.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders are also expected to attend Kalam's last rites today.

09:16 AM

Seven Tamil Nadu govt ministers will attend Kalam's function in Jayalalithaa's absence, said reports.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also expected to attend, but Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will skip it as she is not well.

Penning his tribute to Dr Kalam in his blog, PM Modi wrote, "Bharat has lost a Ratna". "Our scientist-President - and one who was genuinely loved and admired across the masses - never measured success by material possessions," he added.

09:14 AM

Kalam's death witnessed a huge outpouring of grief across the nation. In Delhi, thousands waited in the sultry heat for hours to pay their last respects to him. Serpentine queues were witnessed in Rameswaram, where his body was brought on Wednesday.

Security has been tightened in and around Rameswaram in view of the large number of dignitaries who are expected to come. All the rooms in major hotels had been booked for two days.

Known as the Missile Man of India, Dr Kalam played a pivotal role in the Pokhran-II nuclear test in 1998. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and India's highest civilian honour - the 'Bharat Ratna' - for his achievements.

09:08 AM

The central government has declared national mourning for seven days.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar accompanied the casket.

The casket containing Kalam's body was carried in an army vehicle from Mandapam, around 22 km from Delhi, and a large number of people lined up on both sides of the road to have a final glimpse of their beloved former president.

09:04 AM

At Madurai, the body was received by Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah.

The mortal remains of Kalam were brought to Mandapam from Madurai in a helicopter after being flown there from Delhi in a special Indian Air Force aircraft.

The body of Kalam, also a distinguished scientist and a teacher and popularly known as "People's President' and "Missile Man", reached this Hindu pilgrim town, around 600 km from Chennai, in the evening on Wednesday.

09:03 AM

Dr Kalam, 83, had died on Monday in Shillong. He had suffered a massive cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management.