KOTTAYAM: Another bereavement news from the family of late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Oommen Chandy's paternal sister passed away. Puthupalli Kizhakkekara Thankamma Kurian (94) is the one who passed. The sad news comes from the Kottayam family while the last chance to meet the beloved leader is in progress at the capital's Durbar Hall. Her death was due to age-related diseases.

At the same time, the capital's Durbar Hall, where the public viewing of Oommen Chandy is in progress, is extremely crowded. Police had to struggle to control the crowd that flocked to catch a glimpse of the beloved leader.

Oommen Chandy, who was undergoing treatment for cancer, passed away at around 4:25 am today. He died at Chinmaya Hospital in Bengaluru. Then the body was brought to Thiruvananthapuram by a special flight from Bengaluru at half past two. Many people, including senior Congress leaders, reached the airport to take a last look at their beloved leader. Accompanied by a huge crowd, the body was taken to his residence, Puthupally House, in Thiruvananthapuram. Then the body was brought to the Durbar Hall of the Secretariat for public viewing.

After the public viewing at the Durbar Hall, there will also be a public viewing at the St. George Orthodox Cathedral near the Secretariat which he visited while in Thiruvananthapuram. Later, the body will be taken for public viewing at Indira Bhavan, KPCC headquarters. The dead body will be taken back to the residence in Thiruvananthapuram at night.

The mourning procession will leave for Kottayam tomorrow morning at seven o'clock. After public viewing at Thirunakara Maidanam, the body will be brought to Puthupally by night. Funeral services will be held at Puthupally church on Thursday afternoon at 2 pm.