Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will fly to Delhi today to pay his respects to former president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who passed away in Shillong last evening.
Dr. Kalam collapsed after a massive cardiac arrest while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong last evening.
The government has declared a seven-day national mourning as a mark of respect for Dr. Kalam, who played a stellar role in advancing India's nuclear programme.
His body is being flown to New Delhi from Guwahati.
Considered the most popular president, Dr. Kalam became the11th head of the state and occupied the post between 2002 and 2007 during the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.