Shillong: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam, the “missile man ‘, which became known as” people’s president “died Monday after he collapsed during a lecture at the IIM at Shillong on Monday night.
Kalam, who would have turned 84 in October, was confirmed dead more than two hours after he was taken to the hospital ICU Bethany in critical condition after collapsing around 18:30.
According to reports, Kalam suffered a massive cardiac arrest during the conference at the IIM, Shillong.
Considered the most popular president, Kalam became the 11th head of state and served between 2002 and 2007, but the lack of consensus denied a second term in office for a man who came from outer political spectrum.
V Shanmughanathan Meghalaya governor, who rushed to the hospital on hearing the news of their income, said Kalam died at 19:45. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he could not be revived.
PBO Warjiri Chief Secretary told reporters outside the hospital who spoke to Union Home Secretary asking LC Goyal arrangements to be made to bring the body of Kalam from Guwahati to Delhi on Tuesday morning.
“The former president was admitted to hospital in critical condition Bethany,” M Kharkrang, Khasi Hills SP said before.
Doctors at the military hospital and Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Northeast Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) Bethany rushed to hospital but their efforts were in vain.
A seven-day national mourning will be declared by the Centre, said Union Home Secretary LC Goyal. Both Houses of Parliament are likely to make obituary references and adjourn as a mark of respect to his memory.
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam rose from humble origins to become the President of the most unexpected way during the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, after an all party consensus minus the left parties who saw it through a choice which won handsomely.
An aeronautical engineer Madras Institute of Technology, Kalam was considered the brain’s missile program has India as Chief Scientific Adviser Vajpayee was also instrumental in the Pokhran nuclear test in 1998.
As President Kalam use any opportunity that came to meet the students, especially the children from school, to dream big so they became winners in life. A title, the former president was a vina player and was deeply interested in Carnatic music. He was a vegetarian throughout his life.
Earlier in the day, Kalam had tweeted about his role in IIM Shillong.
