Jayalalithaa cremated at MGR's memorial site at 4-30 pm

Tens of hundreds of mourners started filing past the flower-bedecked body of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday as a grieving Tamil Nadu shut down a day after the death of one of its most popular and charismatic leaders.

Draped in the Tricolour, the body of the AIADMK leader was kept at the Rajaji Hall, a British-era building in Chennai, where teary-eyed people paid homage to the six-time chief minister who passed away overnight at the age of 68.

Major towns and cities of the state, including capital Chennai, came to a grinding halt with few shops opening and even fewer vehicles plying on the roads.The government said the cremation of Jayalalithaa – popularly known as “Amma” -- will take place at 4.30 pm near the iconic Marina beach, at the memorial site of her mentor and former chief minister MG Ramachandran.

The state government declared a seven-day mourning period beginning Tuesday. Schools, colleges, offices and businesses were to be closed for the next



three days, which have been designated a public holiday in the state. The Centre also announced a day’s national mourning.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Chennai, one of the first among several leaders from across the country expected to fly into the state capital through the day. President Pranab Mukherjee’s arrival was delayed after the plane he was travelling in developed a technical snag and had to return to Delhi. Other leaders who will pay homage to Jayalalithaa include Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Draped in her favourite green colour saree, Jayalalithaa’s body was taken from her Poes Garden residence to Rajaji Hall where hundreds and thousands of supporters queued up to have a last glimpse of the powerful leader, nicknamed ‘Puratchi Thalaivi’ (revolutionary leader).

As the casket carrying the body was placed on the steps of Rajaji Hall, in the heart of the city off arterial Anna Salai, four armymen covered it with the Tricolour.