Mortal remains of former Assam CM consigned to flames

GUWAHATI:

Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi was cremated with full state honours at the Nabagraha Cremation ground here on Thursday.

Late Gogoi’s son and Lok Sabha MP from Koliabor, Gaurav Gogoi performed the last rites and lit the funeral pyre at 3:25 pm after representatives from different religions prayed for the departed soul.

The former three-time chief minister’s wife, Dolly Gogoi and daughter Chandrima, besides other family members along with several people from his home constituency, Titabor in Jorhat district, were present during the cremation.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, state ministers Himanta Biswa Sarma, Atul Bora, Chandra Mohan Patowary Phani Bhusan Choudhury, Keshab Mahanta among other ministerial colleagues, state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass besides leaders and members from various parties attended the funeral.

The main entrance of the Navagraha crematorium had to be shut at one point of time as the crematorium ran out of space with several people waiting outside as they performed the rituals.

The Kamrup Metro district administration had also arranged about 1,000 seats inside the pandals set up at the crematorium complex.

Earlier, thousands of people assembled in various stretches of the city to pay their last respects and bid adieu to the departed leader on his last journey.

The flower-adorned vehicle carrying the mortal remains of the political stalwart was taken out from his official residence at Dispur on Thursday morning to a church at Rukmini Nagar, Naam Ghar (Vaishnavite prayer house) at Zoo Road, mosque (Bura Jame Masjid) at Ambari and the Ugratara temple near Latasil playground and finally to the cremation site.

Earlier in the morning, the mortal remains of the veteran Congressman were brought to his official residence from Sankaradeva Kalakshetra.

Party leaders, including All India Congress Committee general secretary and Assam Congress in-charge, Jitendra Singh were part of the funeral procession.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier visited Guwahati to pay his last respects to the veteran Congress leader.

As a mark of respect, the Assam government declared a half-holiday on Thursday and directed all state government offices, semi-government offices, public sector undertakings, corporations, boards and educational institutions to close from 1 pm.

The Kamrup (Metro) district administration made elaborate arrangements for smooth traffic management during the funeral procession.

(Edited by Ladiangti Rani)

ALSO READ:

Also Read: Inspiring stories of our Northeastern women finding their way through sports