Thiruvananthpuram/Kottayam : Hundreds of thousands paid their last respects as mortal remains of the former Chief Minister Oomen Chandy passed in funeral procession across districts from his Thiruvananthapuram residence to hometown and final resting place in Kottayam’s Puthupally. The procession began 7:20 am from Oomen Chandy’s residence - the Puthupally House in Jagathy - in a decorated special KSRTC low-floor bus. As the vehicle with mortal remains cruised through streets for Puthupally, thousands waited teary on streets and flung flowers in offering.
Everywhere, crowds poured in by hundreds overwhelming the streets and it took eight hours for the bus to cross the capital district. The vehicle with the leader’s body reached Kollam’s Nilamel at 3 O’clock after noon and entered Pathanamthitta district only at night on Thursday. There it passed via Kulakada, Kottarakara and Enath. Oomen Chandy’s family members, VN Vasavan, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan and other Congress leaders accompanied the procession.
The funeral will be held 3:30 pm in a specially prepared grave at St. George Orthodox Vallipyapalli in Puthupally. Basilios Marthoma Mathews II Catholicos will officiate funeral services. The State’s 2-day morning meanwhile continues on Thursday. As per wishes of the late leader and his family members, official honours have been cut from final ceremony.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Rajiv Chandrasekhar will attend the funeral. Security has been beefed up in view of their arrivals.
