Funeral procession reaches Thirunakkara Maidan; Many including Mammootty and Dileep pay homage

KOTTAYAM: A funeral procession carrying the mortal remains of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has reached his home town amid unparalleled love from the hearts of the people. The funeral procession has reached Thirunakkara Maidan finally.

Film actors Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Dileep, ministers and other prominent people from the political arena will pay their last respects to the beloved leader at Thirunakkara Maidan. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who came to Kochi to attend Oommen Chandy's funeral, will also reach Puthupally in the afternoon. Cardinal Mar Alencheri will also participate in the funeral services. The body reached Thirunakkara after covering 150 km and 27 hours.

The funeral procession started from Puthupally House in Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram at around 7 am yesterday and was supposed to reach Thirunakkara Maidani in the evening. However, it entered Kottayam only Thursday morning at 5.30 am. In spite of the midnight rain and cold, people were waiting on the roads to offer floral tributes and for a last glimpse of their beloved leader. M C Road literally turned into a sea of people every time the procession passed by. With the rush of people, the convoy could not even move forward. Leaders worked hard to pave the way.

The convoy that left the capital city yesterday morning reached Kottarakkara only in the evening at 6.45 pm. People including students, elderly, women, priests, artists, activists of various political parties thronged to offer tributes. Chandy’s children waved to the people who were standing on both sides of the road.

The body will be laid to rest at the specially erected tomb of St George Church in Puthupally after the public homage at the family house and after the prayers conducted at the courtyard of his dream house which is under construction.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and many others will attend Chandy’s funeral. Security has been beefed up.

Meantime, district collector V Vighneswari has given a holiday for the schools in Kottayam. The holiday was announced following the procession, public homage and the funeral services. The holiday is due to traffic restrictions imposed by the police in connection with the funeral. Shops in Kottayam town will remain closed today as a mark of respect to Chandy. All business establishments in the district will be closed from 1 pm to 5 pm as a mark of respect.