Highlights:
- Last rites of former President of India Pranab Mukherjee performed today
- The last rites were performed at Delhi’s Lodhi crematorium following COVID-19 protocols
- Army contingent gave a guard of honour and a gun salute to Pranab Mukherjee
The funeral of former President of India Pranab Mukherjee took place today with military honours at the Lodhi Road crematorium, Delhi. Mukherjee who has a brain surgery to remove a clot and also tested positive for the novel Coronavirus on the 10th of August passed away at the age of 84 on Monday.
Also Read: Former President Of India Pranab Mukherjee Dies At The Age of 84
With the ongoing restrictions due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the mortal remains of the former president of India Pranab Mukherjee arrived at the Lodhi Road crematorium in a hearse van instead of the gun carriage.
Family, relatives accompanied it wearing the PPE kits.
Officials from Defence Ministry said, “Due to the requirement of following social distancing norms and other COVID-19 related protocols, the mortal remains of the former President were taken in a hearse van instead of the normal gun carriage,”.
#WATCH Delhi: Former President #PranabMukherjee laid to rest with full military honours.
— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2020
His last rites were performed at Lodhi crematorium today, under restrictions for #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/VbwzZG1xX9
The officials also said that all the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines which have been issued by the Ministry of Health and Home Affairs were followed during the funeral.
Pranab Mukherjee’s son performed his last rites.
An Army contingent gave a guard of honour and a gun salute to the former president.
Pranab Mukherjee’s body was taken to his official home in 10 Rajaji Marg, Delhi, where not only dignitaries but also the common people paid their respect.
On Tuesday, many defence service officials and politicians from different political parties paid their last respects to the late Pranab Mukherjee. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid their last respects on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen M M Naravane, Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh were also seen at the house of late president Pranab Mukherjee to pay last respects on his death.
A report said, “Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, CPI general secretary D Raja and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia were also there to pay their respect to a man who had spent more than five decades in public life and was admired as a ‘consensus builder’.”
Following the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines including maintaining social distancing and wearing face mask masks, the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi, BJP Chief J P Nadda, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and many Union ministers including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan were among those who paid homage to him. The government and many states have announced seven-day official mourning.
