Former Odisha CM JB Patnaik cremated with state honours

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, Apr 22:

The mortal remains of former Odisha chief minister JB Patnaik were consigned to flames at Swargadwara in Puri this evening as thousands of people, including several political leaders across  party line,s bade an emotional farewell to the departed soul.

The funeral pyre was lit by his son Prithvi Ballav Patnaik.

Several dignitaries, including Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra, PCC President Prasad Harichandan, former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik, Suresh Routray, Pradip Majhi, AICC leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, BK Hariprasad, ministers Debi Prasad Mishra and Pradip Maharathy, Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty representing the state government, family members of JB Patnaik including his son-in-law Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Puri collector Arvind Agrawal and SP Ashish Kumar Singh were present.

The cremation of Patnaik began after he was given a guard of honour.

Earlier in the day, the body of Patnaik was taken out in a procession from his residence in the Capital city to Congress Bhawan where the party workers and leaders from across the state had their last glimpse of their departed leader.

The cortege then reached the State Assembly where Speaker Niranjan Puri and members offered floral tribute to the octogenarian leader.

From there, the body was taken to Khordha town and then to his native village Rameswar where the villagers paid their last homage.

The cortege later proceeded to Puri via New Jagannath Sadak and Chandanpur and arrived at Swargadwar.