Late Koirala cremated with state honor

Former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who died on Saturday, was cremated with state honor on Sunday evening.

A contingent of army offered guards of honors and 15 gun salutes after the body of 87-year old Koirala was consigned to flames according to Hindu tradition amidst a function organized at Pashupati Aryaghat Crematorium, Sunday evening.

His daughter Sujata, who also holds the portfolio of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the incumbent government, lit his funeral pyre.

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Speaker Subash Nembang, ministers, top leaders of various political parties, ministers and foreign diplomats based in Kathmandu, among others, paid floral tribute to late Koirala before his body was consigned to flames at 7:47 pm.

Indian leaders D P Tripathi, Sita Ram Yechuri and Raj Nath Singh had also reached at Aryaghat to pay last tribute to their long-time friend.

Earlier the day, the body of Koirala was kept at Dasharath Stadium in the capital to allow ordinary public to offer their last tribute to Koirala. The body was kept at the stadium from 8 am to 3 pm.

Among others, an Indian delegation comprising Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee offered last tribute to Koirala at Dasharath Stadium. The delegation arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday afternoon.

An emergency meeting of cabinet on Saturday had announced public holiday on Sunday and observe three-day state mourning over the demise of Koirala. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Sunday draped Koirala’s body with national flag as a mark of state honor.

Tens of thousands of ordinary people took part in funeral procession that began from Dasharath Stadium at 3 pm while thousands others gathered on the either side of the road of the funeral procession route to pay him tribute. It took nearly four hours to reach Pashupati Aryaghat, which lies at the distance of some five kilometer away.

- Asian Tribune -