Arunachal Pradesh mourns Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu's death

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Dorjee Khandu.

The mortal remains of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday, were today flown to state capital Itanagar as a pall of gloom descended on the entire state.

An Mi17 chopper of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew the body of the 56-year-old late chief minister from Tawang to Itanagar and reached the capital city at about 1315 hours.

Khandu's family members and several top politicians of the state, including Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjay, arrived here with the body.

The IAF chopper landed at the helipad in the Raj Bhawan campus of the capital, where Governor JJ Singh paid his last respects to the late chief minister.

The body was taken to the chief minister's official residence in a flower-decked open vehicle as people lined up streets to catch a last glimpse of their beloved leader.

A complete spontaneous shutdown was observed across Itanagar, with all business establishments and educational institutions remaining closed and commercial vehicles staying off the roads.

The body will lie in state in the CM’s official residence till tomorrow, before it is flown back to Tawang for cremation at Khandu's native village there as per Buddhist rituals.

A state funeral will be accorded to the late chief minister.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi will fly to Itanagar tomorrow pay their last respects.

The state government has announced seven days mourning, during which the national flag will be flown half-mast and no government entertainment programme will be held.

All Central Government offices in Arunachal Pradesh will remain closed tomorrow. The national flag flew at half-mast today in the state and in the capitals of all States and Union Territories.

Meanwhile, state PWD minister and Pradesh Congress chief Nabam Tuki was named the caretaker chief minister after a meeting of the state Cabinet here.

Tuki will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor later in the evening.

Earlier, Khandu’s body was flown to Tawang early this morning by an IAF chopper after it was transferred to Luguthang helipad by ground search parties.

Earlier, a rescue team had transferred the mortal remains of Khandu and the four others who had died with him from the crash site to the nearest helipad at Luguthang, about 3 km away.

The body of Khandu was recovered yesterday near Luguthang, in Thimbu circle of Tawang district, along with those of the four others who were flying with him in the ill-fated Pawan Hans helicopter that had crashed on Saturday morning.

The chopper, coming from Tawang to Itanagar, with Khandu on board had gone missing over Sela Pass some 20 minuts after take-off at 0950 hours on Saturday.

NNN