Pranab Mukherjees funeral to be held today, Centre announces 7-day national mourning

The central government on Monday announced seven-day national mourning following the death of former president Pranab Mukherjee. His funeral will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday at the Lodhi Road crematorium, PTI quoted his family as saying. The mortal remains will be laid in state at his residence at Rajaji Marg in New Delhi. Official dignitaries will pay respects from 9.15 am to 10.15 am.

The 84-year-old died at Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi.

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The Home Ministry, in a statement, said that as a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, state mourning will be observed for seven days throughout India from August 31 to September 6. The national flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings throughout India, where it is flown regularly, and there will be no official entertainment, the statement read.

The long-time Congress leader and seven-time parliamentarian, known for his encyclopedic memory and insights into varied issues, had tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of his admission and was being treated for a lung infection. He suffered a septic shock on Sunday and died of a cardiac arrest at 4.30 pm, the hospital had said.

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Mukherjee’s son Abhijit was the first to break the news of the death of the veteran politician.