Pahalgam terror attack: Ramachandran's body brought to Kochi, funeral to be held on Friday

KOCHI: The lifeless body of N Ramachandran, who was shot dead by terrorists while on a vacation to Kashmir with his wife, daughter and grandchildren, has been brought to the Nedumbassery airport. Union ministers Suresh Gopi, George Kurien, Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, Agriculture Minister P Prasad, BJP State President Rajiv Chandrasekhar and others paid their last respects to the body, which was brought from Delhi at 8 pm. Hundreds of people, including relatives, friends and political leaders, had reached the airport.

The body was shifted to the Palarivattom Renai Medicity Hospital morgue that night. The funeral will be held on the 25th after the arrival of his son-in-law and brother, who are abroad. On the 25th, the body will be taken to the house called Neeranjanam on Edappally Mangat Road after a public viewing from 7 to 9 am at Edappally Changampuzha Park. After the last rites, the body will be taken to the Edappally public crematorium at 11.30 am.

Ramachandran, his wife Sheela, daughter Arathy, and twins Drupad and Kedar went on a vacation to Kashmir on Monday morning. On Tuesday, terrorists shot Ramachandran while he was trekking with his daughter in Pahalgam. They left his daughter and her children unharmed.

N. Ramachandran was a prominent figure in the political and social scene in Edappally three decades ago. He returned to his hometown two years ago after ending his long expatriate life.