THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/KOTTAYAM: Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who was always seen amidst crowds, is on his last journey while thousands gather with teary eyes to catch a glimpse of the dear leader. The funeral will take place at 3.30 pm on Thursday at the St George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally under the supervision of Baselios Marthoma Mathews III. The funeral services will be held without official state honours as per Oommen Chandy's last wish.

A day and a night have passed since Oommen Chandy's funeral procession from Puthuppally House in Thiruvananthapuram to Puthuppally in Kottayam began. It took more than 24 hours for the funeral procession to cover a distance of 55 km. The people have not given such an emotional farewell to any other political leader in Kerala. People are lined up along the road to catch a glimpse of the dear leader for one last time and offer a handful of flowers.

Oommen Chandy's mortal remains are being taken to Puthuppally in a specially decorated KSRTC bus. The convoy, which left Thiruvananthapuram at 7.15 am yesterday, reached Kottarakkara only at 6.45 pm. People from various parts gathered on both sides of the road. The children of the great leader were seen bowing to the teary-eyed people who waited for hours to see their leader one last time. It was well past midnight when the convoy entered Laikad bordering Kottayam. Yet, hundreds of people were still anxiously waiting to pay their last respects to their beloved 'Kunjoonju'.

Although the funeral services are scheduled to begin at 3.30 pm today, it is likely to get delayed as the funeral procession is moving very slowly. Students, the elderly, women, priests, artists, people working in various political parties, and those who got help from Oommen Chandy at some point were seen with folded hands on the road. Oommen Chandy's children Chandy Oommen, Maria Oommen, and Achu Oommen were in the vehicle carrying Oommen Chandy's mortal remains. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, Ramesh Chennithala, and MM Hasan are also present.