Thousands in Shillong chant 'Amar Rahe' for Abdul Kalam

Shillong, July 27: Thousands of people broke down and chanted "Amar Rahe" (long live) in the Meghalaya capital on Monday night, as the body of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was taken out from the hospital where he died.

Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmughanathan told the media that the former president passed away at 7.45 p.m. in the private hospital after a team of doctors made all efforts to revive him.

As soon as the body was taken out from Bethany Hospital by army officials to the military hospital in an army ambulance, thousands of people chanted "Amar Rahe" amidst tears in their eyes, and followed the vehicle.

Deputy Chief Minister Roytre Christopher Laloo, who also came to the hospital with his cabinet colleagues, said: "Kalam's body will be kept for a night at the military hospital and would be flown tomorrow (Tuesday) morning to New Delhi via Guwahati by an Indian Air Force helicopter from Shillong."

IANS