Kalam death: In his hometown, hundreds turn up to bid farewell

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O Panneerselvam and his cabinet colleagues, along with Kalam’s relatives, received the body at Mandapam camp, where army personnel presented a guard of honour.

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The body was then taken by road to Rameswaram — Kalam’s hometown. When the convoy entered Pamban bridge, connecting the mainland and Pamban island, hundreds of local residents and fishermen turned up to pay their last respects. “I love Pamban,” Kalam had once said, recalling how he used to take a train to cross the bridge when he was a student.

Students from schools and colleges in Madurai, Ramanathapuram and surrounding areas flocked to Rameswaram since morning. Many arrived from neighbouring states as well.

Late in the evening, hundreds were seen queuing up at the open ground in front of Rameswaram bus stand, where the body was kept till late night. The burial will take place at Pei Karambu near Rameswaram town. At around 9 am on Thursday, the body will be taken in a procession to the site — an open area now demarcated as memorial land for Kalam. “The body will be taken from home after prayers,” said Sulthan Ahmed, a close associate of the family.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the funeral, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will not make it due to her “health condition.”

The Tamil Nadu government has declared a public holiday on Thursday for the funeral. A directive was issued to all industrial establishments to declare a holiday.