Alvida Atal: Wrapped in Tricolour, Vajpayee's mortal remains reach BJP headquarters Read In Hindi

Vajpayee, a bachelor, is survived by his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. He will be cremated today in New Delhi.

Edited by: India TV News Desk, New Delhi [ Updated: August 17, 2018 11:15 IST ]

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's last rites today

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who led the nation through several crises while holding together a tenuous coalition with his inclusive politics and superlative oratory, passed away at the age of 93, yesterday. ​​Vajpayee, a bachelor, is survived by his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. He will be cremated today in New Delhi. 

In pics: Charismatic Vajpayee no more, a trip down memory lane

The body of the BJP veteran was kept at his official residence at 6A, Krishna Menon Marg for people to pay their homage to the departed leader. The mortal remains were then taken to the BJP headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.

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The funeral procession would leave the BJP headquarters at 1 pm and the last rites would be performed at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal at 4:30 pm.

Alvida Atal: Live updates on Atal Bihari Vajpayee's last rites today

11:05 am: Veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Atal Bihari Vajpayee: "Atalji was a definite statesman. Someone who never treated political opponent like enemies, which is missing now...jab main Parliamentary Affairs Minister thaa tab wo Leader of Opposition the aur bade hone ke bawjood mere kamre me kai baar khud aa jaate the."

10:58 am: PM Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and other top party leaders are waiting outside the BJP headquarters to receive Atal Bihari Vajpayee's mortal remains.

10:57 am: The funeral procession would leave the BJP headquarters at 1 pm and the last rites would be performed at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal at 4 pm.

10:56 am: Amid chants of 'Atal Bihari Amar Rahe', a decorated gun carriage carrying the mortal remains of Vajpayee, who passed away at AIIMS on Thursday evening, left for the BJP headquarters on Deen Dayal Updadhyay Marg around 10 am.

10:55 am: The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee are being taken to the BJP headquarters from his residence on the Krishna Menon Marg with people in large numbers joining the procession.

10:44 am: WATCH VIDEO: When Narendra Modi ran like a child to hug 'father figure' Vajpayee

10:38 am: Meanwhile, The West Bengal government has declared a half-day holiday in its offices and educational institutions on Friday as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday (August 16) evening in New Delhi at the age of 93.

10:18 am: People chanting 'Atalji Amar Rahein' as Atal Bihari Vajpayee's mortal remains being carried to BJP headquarters at DDU Marg from the former PM's house at 6A Krishna Menon Marg

10:00 am: Vajpayee's mortal remains being taken to BJP HQ, huge crowd along the way

9:06 am: PM Modi pens down emotional blog for Atal Bihari Vajpayee - Read here

9:00 am: Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8:53 am: Congress President Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8:37 am: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8:35 am: Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8:30 am: Army Chief Bipin Rawat pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8:14 am: Delhi police has made elaborate security arrangements for the last rites procession. It will be ensured that the people who come to pay last respect & the commuters face minimum inconvenience & that there is no compromise with security: Delhi DCP Madhur Verma 

8:09 am: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

8:05 am: Javed Akhtar & Shabana Azmi arrive at former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence to pay last respects. Javed Akhtar says,'very rare that a politician is respected across party lines. People with different ideology have also come as they love him because he used to love all' 

7:44 am: Kerala governor P. Sathasivam & Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit pay tributes to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at his residence in Delhi.

Vajpayee's death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital where he was admitted June 11 with a variety of ailments.

"It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at 05:05 PM," the AIIMS said in a statement.

It said his condition was stable for the last nine weeks, but "unfortunately, his condition deteriorated over the last 36 hours and he was put on life support systems."

As it became clear that the end was near, a host of politicians and well-wishers began gathering at AIIMS since morning. A pall of gloom descended at the BJP headquarters as soon the news of Vajpayee's demise broke.

A master orator, Vajpayee used witty remarks with aplomb for political satire on his opponents that often won him accolades and hearts of many.

With his one-liners, he often trumped the questioner that helped tide over tough questions posed to him and defuse the situation.

Several roads in Delhi to be closed in view of Vajpayee's funeral, schools shut

​Some of the roads that will be closed from 8 am today are Krishna Menon Marg, Sunehri Bagh Road, Tughlak Road, Akbar Road, Tees January Marg, Man Singh Road, Bhagwan Dass Road, Shahjahan Road and Sikandara Road.

DDU Marg, IP Marg, BSZ Marg (from Tilak Bridge to Delhi Gate), JLN Marg (from Rajghat to Delhi Gate) will also be closed, the traffic police said.
Commuters have been advised to use Aurobindo Marg, Safdarjung Road, Mother Teresa Crescent, Park Street, Mandir Marg to travel between north and south Delhi.

Those travelling between east and west Delhi can use Vikas Marg, Shahdara Bridge and Wazirabad Bridge to reach Ring Road. 

India Tv - Traffic advisory for Delhi

Traffic advisory for Delhi

 India Tv - Traffic advisory for Delhi

Traffic advisory for Delhi

Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday announced that all the schools and offices in the national capital will remain closed on Friday as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"All Delhi govt. offices, schools and other institutions shall remain closed tomorrow, as a mark of respect for our dear departed Sh Atalji (sic)," Sisodia said in a tweet.

In another tweet, he said: "All schools including private schools shall also remain closed."

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