Huge crowd descends for Bal Thackeray's funeral procession

Bal Thackeray's funeral procession, dubbed as one of the biggest in recent times, began today from his residence 'Matsohree'.

People thronged the roadsides, flyovers, skywalks and balconies of their buildings to catch a glimpse of the Sena patriarch and pay homage to him.

In view of the legions of crowds pouring in to pay their last respects to Balasaheb, it is estimated that the funeral procession would take more than two hours to reach the Sena Bhawan (party headquarters) at Dadar.

Lakhs of Shiv Sainiks are walking along with the funeral procession, shouting slogans in memory of the Shiv Sena supremo.

People were also seen showering flowers on their beloved leader, who breathed his last at 3.30 pm yesterday, after battling prolonged illness.

Scores of Shiv Sainiks arrived in the city from different parts of the state, largely from neighbouring Thane, Raigad, Pune, Aurangabad and Konkan region, which are the bastions of the saffron party, founded on June 19, 1966.

Lakhs of people were waiting since early morning to pay last respects to the leader, some even standing on the street poles.

According to reports, hordes of people are arriving in the metropolis to attend the cremation of the Sena chief, to be held in the evening at 6 pm at the Shivaji Park, for which the Sena has taken special permission.

Thackeray addressed his first speech at the Shivaji Park ground and used to address the annual Dussehra rally there.

The body will be kept at Shiv Sena Bhawan for sometime to allow the party office-bearers to pay their last respects.

Meanwhile, a bandh-like situation prevailed in many parts of the city, Navi Mumbai and Thane in the wake of Balasaheb's death.