SHILLONG:The body of former president APJ Abdul Kalam , who passed away here in Meghalaya, was flown to New Delhi early this morning, an official said.
Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan, Home Minister Roshan Warjri, Assembly Speaker Abu Taher Mondal and Director General of Civil Defence and Home Guards, RKSharma accompanied Kalam’s body.
Kalam body was flown in special Indian Air Force helicopter to the international airport in Guwahati, Assam. His body which was draped in a tri-colour will be later taken into another special Indian Air Force aircraft C1-30 to New Delhi. Kalam passed away yesterday evening due to a cardiac arrest after he collapsed while delivering a lecture to the senior batch (2014-16) of Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. Kalam (83), who was a guest lecturer at IIM Shillong, arrived at the Institute at around 1740 hours and spoke for just five minutes on the topic creating a Livable Planet and collapsed at 1840 hours yesterday, IIM-Shillong Director, Dr Amitabha De said.
According to Dr De, the former President was quite jovial when he entered the class. Though a doctor at IIM initially examined Kalam, he was immediately rushed to Bethany Hospital. Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan, who visited the hospital where Kalam was taken ill after he collapsed while delivering a lecture to students of Indian Institute of Managment-Shillong following a cardiac arrest, told reporters that the former president had passed away at 1945 hours in the private hospital after a team of doctors made all efforts to revive the patient.
Doctors from Military Hospital and NEIGRIHMS were assisting the doctors at Bethany Hospital for resuscitation. A statement by Dr AM Kharbamon, Medicine Consultant , Bethany Hospital said that Kalam was first brought to the emergency room and on arrival, he showed ?no spontaneous respiration, no pulse, BP not recordable, pupils fixed and dilated.
The doctor said that intubation was done immediately and CPR started. According to the doctor, Kalam was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit immediately for further resuscitation.
All efforts were made, but Dr APJ Abdul Kalam could not be revived. He was declared dead at 0745 pm, the doctor said.
As a mark of respect on the sudden demise of the former president, the Meghalaya government has declared a state holiday today for all government offices, educational institutions, Banks and Financial Institutions tomorrow. (agencies)
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