PM, Sonia, PC pay last respects to Khandu

Itanagar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi paid their last respects to former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who was killed in a helicopter crash April 30.
Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi touched down at the helipad in the Raj Bhawan campus here at about 1030 hrs, accompanied by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
They drove down to the Chief Minister’s official residence and paid their last respects to the departed leader yesterday.
The Central leaders also met the family of late Khandu and extended their condolences before flying back.
Khandu’s body is now being flown to Tawang by an Indian Air Force helicopter, where his last rites will be performed at his native village as per Buddhist rituals.
A state funeral will be accorded to the late chief minister.
The state government has announced three-day mourning, started on thursday, during which the Tricolour will be flown half-mast and no government entertainment programme will be organised.
All Central government offices in Arunachal Pradesh would remain closed.
The national flag was flown at half-mast yesterday and today in the capitals of all States and Union Territories.
Hundreds of admirers of Khandu paid last respects to their beloved leader here since thursday.
The people lined up the route from the CM’s residence to the helipad in Raj Bhawan as the mortal remains of Khandu were transferred in a flower-decked vehicle.
A Pawan Hans chopper, coming from Tawang to Itanagar with Mr Khandu on board, had gone missing minutes after take-off at 0950 hrs on Saturday.
Besides Khandu, on board were two pilots JS Babbar and TS Mammik, the chief minister’s security officer Yashi Chadook and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup.
The wreckage and bodies were recovered by locals near Luguthang, in Tawang districts.
Meanwhile, 50-year-old Congress leader Jarbom Gamlin was last night sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Mr Gamlin, the Power Minister in Khandu’s Cabinet, was administered oath of office by the Governor , General (retd) J J Singh in Raj Bhawan after a majority of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) members backed his candidature for the post.