GUWAHATI, July 28 - The body of former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam reached the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport around 5.45 am today from Shillong in a special Indian Air Force aircraft.
Floral tributes were paid to the departed soul at the airport by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and senior officials of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, besides a host of other dignitaries from Assam and Meghalaya.
A host of dignitaries from Assam including former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Director General of Assam Police Khagen Sarma and president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Anjan Dutta also paid floral tributes to the �Missile Man�.
Wrapped in the National Tricolour, the casket carrying the mortal remains of the renowned scientist was also accompanied by Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan from Shillong.
The body was then flown to New Delhi in another special Indian Air Force aircraft around 9.05 am.
While paying homage to Dr Kalam, Chief Minister Gogoi termed his death as an irreparable loss to the nation.
�He loved children. I have met him on a number of occasions. I even took him to rural areas like Sualkuchi where he witnessed how weavers go about their job. Kalam was undoubtedly one of the most popular figures of the country,� he said.
