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Pall of gloom descends

Last Updated 27 July 2015, 21:32 IST

A pall of gloom descended on Rameswaram, the native place of former president APJ Abdul Kalam, after the news of his demise reached there on Monday night.

Kalam passed away in a hospital in Shillong, Meghalaya, after suffering a cardiac arrest during a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management there.

Kalam was born in the island town on October 15, 1931, and raised here. People assembled near Kalam's residence, which was converted into a museum that stocks the childhood memories of India’s ‘Misile Man’. Not only the relatives but other people were also seen weeping near Kalam's residence.
Reports from Rameswaram said Kalam's brother Mohammed Muthu Meera Lebbai Maraicker and his relatives were discussing the former president’s last rites with the district administration.

Various political leaders including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa condoled the death of Abdul Kalam.

Jayalalithaa said: "It was with profound grief and sorrow that I learnt of the sudden demise of the distinguished eleventh president of India, great inspirational scientist and a beloved son of Tamil Nadu, Bharat Ratna APJ Abdul Kalam.”

"He touched everyone with his simplicity and grace. He was a true patriot who placed the interests of the country above all else", she said adding "his mind was full of ideas for harnessing technology for the benefit of the rural poor".

"I join the people of India and of Tamil Nadu in deeply mourning his passing away,” she said. Other political leaders from the state like DMK president M Karunanidhi, Tamil Nadu Congress chief E V K S Elangovan and Pattali Makkal Katchi founder Ramadoss condoled Kalam’s death.

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(Published 27 July 2015, 21:32 IST)

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