People's President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, will be laid to rest today at Rameswaram, the town in Tamil Nadu where he was born. The funeral, which will be held at 11 am, is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also expected to attend, but Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will skip it as she is not well. Seven ministers will attend the function in her stead, the state government has said.

 

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.

 

His 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.

 

The government has declared national mourning for seven days.

 

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.

 

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 said.

(NDTV)