Chennai, Aug 8: DMK President and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday began his final journey on a flower-decked military vehicle from Rajaji Hall where his body was lying in state since early in the morning.
The tri-colour covered body of the 94-year old veteran politician was put on a military vehicle by military personnel shortly before 4 p.m.
Karunanidhi, who led the DMK for the past five decades, was the Chief Minister for 19 years spread over five tenures.
The DMK had earlier said the vehicle carrying Karunanidhi’s body will reach Anna Square on the Marina Beach, covering a distance of less than three kilometers.
DMK leader and Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Stalin, accompanied by party leaders, walked ahead of the military vehicle as the funeral procession made slow progress, with thousands crowding the streets.
Stalin has appealed to people to keep calm during the final journey.
Two persons were killed and 35 suffered minor injuries on Wednesday in a stampede outside the Rajaji Hall here as hundreds of thousands thronged for a final glimpse of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi, a hospital official said.
A senior official of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital told IANS: “Two persons were brought dead to the hospital with injuries arising due to trampling. One is a woman, Shanbagam, while the other person is an unidentified male.”
The dead woman was said to be 60 years old.
The official added that another 35 persons were brought to the hospital with minor injuries. Some were dehydrated. They were given treatment.
“There has been heavy jostling and pushing and pulling in the crowd since morning,” one man at the site said, explaining what led to the stampede.
The tragedy occurred shortly after DMK leader and Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Stalin appealed for calm to the milling crowds which were getting restive at not being able to get close to the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s body.
(IANS)
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