Former President and India's "Missile Man" APJ Abdul Kalam's mortal remains were on Thursday laid to rest at Pei Karumbu burial ground near his hometown Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.

Dr Kalam, affectionately known as "People's President", was buried with full state honours. A 21-gun salute was accorded to the former president during the funeral.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and several other senior leaders along with thousands of people from across the state attended the funeral of Kalam, who passed away on 27 July.

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Check Photos: Dr Kalam's Funeral Procession | PM Modi at Kalam's Funeral at Rameswaram

Senior leaders, Kalam's friends and colleagues paid their last respects to the former president after the burial.

Live Updates:

12:13 pm:

12:12 pm: Former President Abdul Kalam buried. Family and friends offer prayers at the burial site.

12:05 pm:

12 pm:

11:51 am:

11:47 am: Tri-services personnel and Kalam's family members carry out his burial ceremony.

11:46 am: 21 Gun salutes fired, The Hindu reports.

11:42 am:

11:30 am:

11:25 am: Tri-services personnel salute Kalam's body. Senior leaders, Kalam's friends and former colleagues pay their last respects to the former President.

11:02 am: Dr Kalam's funeral procession reaches Pei Karumbu burial site, according news reports.

10:57 am: Funeral procession of Dr Kalam heads to Pei Karumbu burial site.

10:50 am:

10:44 am: Thousands of people walk to the burial site of Dr Kalam to bid him farewell.

10:35 am: Rahul Gandhi arrives at Rameswaram to attend Dr Kalam's last rites.

10:30 am: Modi is on his way to Rameswaram from Madurai for Kalam's funeral.

10:22 am:

10:15 am:

10 am: PMK leaders Anbumani Ramadoss and GK Mani, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan, MDMK Chief Vaiko and Tamil Manila Congress head GK Vasan reach Pei Karumbu for the funeral, The Hindu reports.

9:57 am:

9:30 am:

The Southern Railways operated a special train between Madurai and Rameswaram on Thursday to allow people travel to Kalam's hometown for his funeral. The train passed by six stations -- Manamadurai, Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram, Manamadurai, Mandapam and Pamban.

It left Madurai at 7.30 am and reached Rameswaram at 10.30 am. The special train will return from Rameswaram after the funeral at 2 pm and will reach Madurai at 5 pm, The Hindu reported.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government declared Thursday a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act for the funeral of Dr Kalam. All educational institutions and government offices remained shut for the day.

Dr Kalam's death

Kalam, also a teacher, was delivering a speech at IIM Shillong on 27 July when he suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to Bethany Hospital where the doctors declared him dead at 7.45 pm after failing to revive him. Kalam had suffered a "massive cardiac arrest".

His body was flown to Delhi via Guwahati the next day by an Indian Air Force aircraft. In Delhi, Kalam's body was received by President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Modi. He was given tri-services Guard of Honour.

Later, his body was shifted to his official residence at 10 Rajaji Marg where several leaders from all parties paid their last respects to the former president. 

On the request of Kalam's family, the government decided to hold his funeral at his native place Rameswaram will full state honours. His body was on Wednesday flown by a special IAF aircraft to Madurai, where it was received by Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah. From Madurai it was taken to Mandapam, where state ministers, members of armed forces and others paid their last respects to the departed leader, IANS reported.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar accompanied the casket containing Kalam's body.

Kalam was born in Rameswaram on 15 October 1931 in a poor family. As a boy, he hawked newspapers to supplement his family income. For his education, his sister pawned jewellery with a moneylender so that Kalam could have Rs 600, which he needed while joining the Madras Institute of Technology.

As a mark of respect to Dr Kalam, Tamil Nadu also observed Thursday as a dry day.

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