Chandy’s last visit to hometown delayed as thousands thronged the road overnight – News18

The hearse carrying the mortal remains of former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who passed away two days ago, is yet to reach his hometown even 24 hours after it started its journey from Thiruvananthapuram, as people for last respects Thousands of people are standing in queue on the way.

A large number of sleepless people gathered on the route where the bus carrying his mortal remains went to pay his last respects and bid him farewell, due to which the vehicle could move only an inch at the speed of a turtle.

Chandy’s final journey began at 7.20 am on Wednesday from the state capital, where he spent a major part of his life during his decades-long political career as an MLA, leader of the Congress party and chief minister.

At several places in the four districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha – through which Chandy’s mortal remains had passed on their journey to his bastion Kottayam – the bus had to be held up for over an hour as people flocked to pay their respects. Were. dear leader

As a result, Chandy’s final journey of about 150 km, which would normally have been completed in three to four hours, did not take more than 24 hours after the start.

While thousands of people, including children of all ages, waited sleeplessly along the roads along the route taken by the specially modified low-floor bus with garlands and pictures of Chandi, many others – including political leaders of various parties Involved – waiting at Thirunakkara. Ground in Kottayam all night.

A similar vigil was also observed outside his house in Puthupalli where not only locals but also others wishing to pay homage to Chandy had gathered in large numbers since Wednesday morning.

After people pay their last respects to him at the Thirunakkara Ground, his remains will be taken to his home in Puthupalli and thereafter, buried in a specially prepared grave next to the departed priests of his village church, marking the end of an era. Kerala politics.

According to a tweet by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will attend Chandy’s last rites.

The last rites will be performed in a simple manner without any state honors as per the wishes of the late Congress leader.

Chandy, a two-time chief minister of Kerala, breathed his last at a private hospital in Bengaluru in the early hours of Tuesday. Party sources said that he died while undergoing treatment for cancer. He was 79 years old.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,