Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee cremated with full state honours at Smriti Sthal

India mourned as former PM Vajpayee was cremated today with full state honours at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.

The defence service chiefs, PM Modi and President Kovind along with other leaders paid their respects to the former prime minister for the last time after the funeral procession arrived at the site thronged by thousands of people.

Earlier, former PM Vajpayee's cortege arrived at  Smriti Sthal for the last rites on Friday afternoon as people gathered on the way to catch a last glimpse of the departed leader. 

Also Read: Thousands gather to pay homage to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Prime minister Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah walked behind the cortege as the funeral procession made its way to Smirti Sthal.

Vajpayee, 93, had passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday evening after prolonged illness.

Earlier in the day, several leaders including former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, Bhutanese king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Bangladesh foreign minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali arrived in Delhi to pay their last respects to former prime minister Vajpayee.

Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena and prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe condoled the death of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said the former Indian prime minister played a vital role in ensuring the stability of the island nation.

Pakistan's prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan also expressed condolences over the demise of Vajpayee, saying his efforts for India-Pakistan peace will always be remembered. Pakistan's foreign office in a statement said: "Mr Vajpayee was a renowned statesman who contributed to bringing a change in India-Pakistan relations and remained a key supporter of SAARC and regional cooperation for development,"

In an unprecedented gesture, the government of Mauritius decided that both Indian and Mauritian flag will fly half-mast on government buildings today as a mark of respect for India's former prime minister Vajpayee.

Vajpayee's mortal remains were taken to the BJP headquarters at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg on Friday morning after being kept at his official residence 6 A Krishna Menon Marg overnight.