Shillong

 The body of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who died on Monday evening here in the capital of Meghalaya, was flown to New Delhi on Tuesday morning.

Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmughanathan, Home Minister Roshan Warjri, Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal and Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guards R.K. Sharma accompanied Kalam’s body.

From Shillong, his body was carried by a special Indian Air Force helicopter to Guwahati airport and from there his body was flown to New Delhi on Indian Air Force aircraft C-130.

The former president died at 7.45 p.m. on Monday in a private hospital here in Shillong after he collapsed while delivering a lecture on “Liveable Planet” to students of the Indian Institute of Managment-Shillong.

An official communique from Bethany Hospital said Kalam was brought to the hospital at 7 p.m.

“He was received in the emergency room and on arrival, Kalam showed no spontaneous respiration, no pulse, blood pressure was not recordable, pupils fixed and dilated. Intubation was done immediately and CPR started,” hospital medical consultant A.M. Kharbamon said in the statement.

She said Kalam was shifted to the ICU immediately but could not be revived.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government has declared Tuesday as a holiday in the state as a mark of respect to the former president.

Thousands in Shillong chant ‘Amar Rahe’ for Kalam 

Shillong

Thousands of people broke down and chanted “Amar Rahe” (long live) in the Meghalaya capital on Monday night, as the body of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was taken out from the hospital where he died.

Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmughanathan told the media that the former president passed away at 7.45 p.m. in the private hospital after a team of doctors made all efforts to revive him.

As soon as the body was taken out from Bethany Hospital by army officials to the military hospital in an army ambulance, thousands of people chanted “Amar Rahe” amidst tears in their eyes, and followed the vehicle.

Deputy Chief Minister Roytre Christopher Laloo, who also came to the hospital with his cabinet colleagues, said: “Kalam’s body will be kept for a night at the military hospital and would be flown tomorrow (Tuesday) morning to New elhi via Guwahati by an Indian Air Force helicopter from Shillong.”

IANS

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