Thousands gather to pay homage to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, last rites at 4 pm

Thousands of people gathered outside the BJP headquarters today and hundreds lined up inside to pay homage to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the poet-politician who wove together pragmatism and a vision for an inclusive India.

The air was solemn as Vajpayee's body, draped in the tricolour, was placed on a platform draped in white flowers.

Hundreds of people filed past the body in silence, with a large portrait of a smiling Vajpayee — a BJP flag on either side — in the backdrop.

According to tv reports, around 1 lakh people are expected to throng the Smriti Sthal to attend the last rites of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

PM Narendra Modi, BJP president, CMs of several states and top opposition leaders will be present at the Vijay Ghat when Vajpayee's mortal remains will be consigned to the flames at 4pm.

Opposition leaders like CPI's D Raja and CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury were among those who visited the BJP headquarters to pay their respects.

Earlier in the morning, hundreds of people chanted "Atal Bihari Amar Rahe" as Vajpayee's cortege made its way from his home through the city to reach the BJP office.

A decorated gun carriage carrying his mortal remains left his home on Krishna Menon Marg around 10 am and reached the party's headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, about five kilometres away, around 11 am.

The funeral procession will go through Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Delhi Gate, Netaji Subhash Marg, Nishadraj Marg and Shanti van before reaching Smriti Sthal, Delhi Traffic Police said in a tweet.

Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the funeral procession, officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)