A cloud of gloom hangs over India as its former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away on Thursday, August 16 at Delhi's All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The BJP stalwart's last rites took place at Smriti Sthal at 4 pm.
As it happened:
- The former PM was cremated with state honours. Namita Bhattacharya lights pyre.
- Last rites for Vajpayee underway. The last rites are being performed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee's daughter Namita Bhattacharya.
- Tricolour wrapped around mortal remains of Atal Bihari Vajpayee handed over to his granddaughter Niharika.
- Foreign ministers are giving floral tribute to Vajpayee.
- Last salute accorded to former PM at Smriti Sthal.
- Modi and other ministers are laying wreaths on the former PM.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan pay last respects to former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee at Smriti Sthal in Delhi pic.twitter.com/MZpQhYQi1t
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
PM Narendra Modi pays last respects to former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee at Smriti Sthal pic.twitter.com/Yd62t8atlH
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- The chiefs of India's defence forces are paying their last tribute to Vajpayee.
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba & Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, pay last tribute to former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee at Smriti Sthal in Delhi pic.twitter.com/oDq4kzHl4V
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Mortal remains of former PM has reached Smriti Sthal for funeral.
- Visuals of Vajpayee's last journey.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks behind a truck pulling the coffin with the body of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during a funeral procession in New Delhi on August 17, 2018. -CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images 
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP/Getty Images
- Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has arrived at Smriti Sthal for Vajpayee's last rites. Politicos have gathered at the venue where the former PM will be cremated.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ashok Gehlot and Raj Babbar, at Smriti Sthal for the funeral of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/9Lvhfxj2ap
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrive at Smriti Sthal for the funeral of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/lw1jtCx3DF
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Union Jack flies at half-mast at the British High Commission in New Delhi as a mark of respect to Former PM.
- Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai arrives in Delhi, he will attend the funeral of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- Hundreds of people pour in to participate in Vajpayee's last journey to Smriti Sthal.
#WATCH: The mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee being taken to Smriti Sthal for the funeral. PM Modi, Amit Shah and other BJP leaders also take part in the procession. pic.twitter.com/k35LfX4Tps
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
The mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee being taken to Smriti Sthal for funeral. PM Modi and Amit Shah also take part in the procession. pic.twitter.com/hYoFo2Zns3
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Onlookers take pictures as a vehicle carrying the coffin with the body of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes by India Gate during the funeral procession, in New Delhi on August 17.
#Delhi: Visuals of people gathered during the funeral procession of former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee to Smriti Sthal. pic.twitter.com/YXQpZ5Ti3v
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
The mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee being taken to Smriti Sthal for funeral. PM Modi and Amit Shah also take part in the procession. The distance is around 4 kilometers. pic.twitter.com/vJWTLwMwhm
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- The Former PM's last journey has begun.
#Delhi: Mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee being taken from BJP Headquarters to Smriti Sthal for the funeral pic.twitter.com/MKAjqcHXa6
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
The mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee being taken to Smriti Sthal for funeral. PM Modi also takes part in the procession pic.twitter.com/QE3iS9qZj6
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Several politicos are speaking highly of Vajpayee's special regard for humanity.
Being PM he was simple, he treated everyone respectfully. When asked how will he solve Kashmir issue within constitutional boundaries, he said we will solve it with humanity.with this he won hearts of Kashmiris: Sudheendra Kulkarni, Ex-aide to #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/uEAlG4mTd7
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
It was the speciality of Atal ji that he never let humanity be harmed due to the political & ideological differences. Such principle is needed in the country today: Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) General Secretary #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/zAnzCI2Dus
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Visuals of foreign dignitaries arriving in Delhi to pay their tribute to Vajpayee.
Sri Lanka acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella arrives in Delhi, he will attend the funeral of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee. pic.twitter.com/4tqmmFbVn4
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- The former PM had maintained peaceful bilateral ties with several countries and was an active member of the UN General Assembly for several years.
US President George W. Bush escorts Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to a press conference in the Grand Foyer of the White House, November 9, 2001Reuters 
Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (R) is greeted by a Chinese girl and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing June 23, 2003Reuters
- Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali flew down to Delhi this morning to pay his last tribute to Vajpayee.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali arrives in Delhi, he will attend the funeral of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee. pic.twitter.com/oRtSqslSVR
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Veteran BJP leader LK Advani, who was long-term friends with Vajpayee has arrived at the BJP HQ.
Delhi: Veteran BJP leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani pay last respects to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at BJP Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/RoUMwlqyR8
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
Delhi: Veteran BJP leader LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani with Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and his family at the BJP Headquarters. #AtalBihariVajpayee pic.twitter.com/axDybGEQmV
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has arrived in Delhi.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Pradeep Kumar Gyawali arrives in Delhi, he will attend the funeral of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee. pic.twitter.com/pKK5f5Suok
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh are paying last respects to Vajpayee, who passed away on August 16.
ANI
ANI
- King of Bhutan is in Delhi for Vajpayee's funeral.
King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk arrives in Delhi, he will attend the funeral of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee. pic.twitter.com/cjQZZ5CjsY
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is at the BJP HQ to pay his tribute to Vajpayee before the veteran leader begins his last journey at 1 pm.
#Delhi: UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Governor Ram Naik pay last respects to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at BJP Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/S7DB2MseRo
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 17, 2018
- DMK leader A Raja, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and Manipur CM N Biren Singh pay last respects to Vajpayee.
Politicos arrive at BJP HQ to pay their tributes.ANI 
ANI
- BJP leaders are paying their tribute to the saffron party veteran leader.
Delhi: Union Minister Suresh Prabhu and BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav pay last respects to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at BJP Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/R80AKrsiOm
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
#Delhi: BJP President Amit Shah and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh pays last respects to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at BJP Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/RnyGmxRL3T
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays last respects to Vajpayee at BJP Headquarters.
ANI
ANI
ANI
- Vajpayee's mortal remains reaches BJP Headquarters.
#Delhi: The mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee have been brought to BJP Headquarters pic.twitter.com/ujL8ZmYn6a
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
#Delhi: The mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee have been brought to BJP Headquarters pic.twitter.com/R0MCPh9LS9
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, Nepal's Foreign Affairs Minister PK Gyawal, Sri Lanka acting Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Pakistan Law Minister Ali Zafar will arrive in Delhi today to pay tributes to former PM.
- Visuals from outside BJP HQs:
#Delhi: Huge crowd gathers at BJP Headquarters where mortal remains of former PM #AtalBihariVajpayee will be brought shortly. pic.twitter.com/tYJnagdUnD
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Most of the streets in Delhi will remain shut today.
Delhi: A huge crowd of people has joined the procession as the mortal remains of former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee are being taken from his residence to the BJP Headquarters. People are chanting 'Atal Bihari amar rahe' and 'Vande Mataram'. pic.twitter.com/MYJ5BcTi9k
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Vajpayee's body is being taken to the BJP Headquarters.
Delhi: Mortal remains of former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee are being taken to BJP Headquarters. Huge crowd of people have also joined the procession. pic.twitter.com/yIE7ga7x0G
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
Delhi: The mortal remains of former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee are being taken to BJP Headquarters. pic.twitter.com/pdAlxzSmpi
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- PM Narendra Modi arrives at BJP Headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg where mortal remains of former PM Vajpayee will be brought shortly.
ANI
ANI
- The Supreme Court and the Registry will observe half-day holiday on Friday (August 17) and will sit till 1 pm.
- Politicos are dropping in to pay their last respect to the former PM.
Smt @nsitharaman pays homage to the former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee pic.twitter.com/Mg10VTxJ7A
— Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) August 17, 2018
Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu pays tribute to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at his residence in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/UWGydy2uUg
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
Congress President Rahul Gandhi pays tribute to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at his residence in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/NVwl6N04s6
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval pays tribute to former Prime Minister #AtalBihariVajpayee at his residence in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/GGHQn9Q8i6
— ANI (@ANI) August 17, 2018
- Army Chief Bipin Rawat has paid his last respect to the BJP leader.
- Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba pays tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his residence in Delhi.
- The BJP veteran's body has been kept his residence 6-A, Krishna Menon Marg.
- The Protocol and Media division of AIIMS hospital released a medical bulletin which confirmed the unfortunate demise of the leader. "It is with profound grief that we inform about the sad demise of former Prime Minister of India Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at 5:05 pm, on 16.08.2018" said the release.
