Thaindian News

Hyderabad, Sep 4 (IANS) Tens of thousands of grief stricken people turned out Friday to pay their last respects to the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, whose body will be kept at a stadium here before being flown to his native Pulivendula town in Kadapa district for the last rites.
A sea of humanity waited outside the Lal Bahadur Stadium in the heart of the city for the cortege to arrive from his residence five kilometres away. Thousands of others accompanied the funeral procession as it snaked its way to the stadium through surging crowds.

Hundreds of vehicles followed the flower bedecked truck in which the body, draped in the national flag, was kept.

Standing by the side of his father’s body was his MP son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who was appealing to people to allow the vehicle to move.

Grieving men and women were standing on either side of the road and on rooftops to bid adieu to the man who ruled their hearts through a series of pro-poor schemes.

Holding national flags in their hands, some mourners were seen running towards the truck to have a closer look at the casket and console Jaganmohan Reddy.

The Lal Bahadur Stadium is where YSR, as the late chief minister was known, took oath as head of government for the second term on May 20 this year. It was at the same stadium that YSR had taken oath for the first term in 2004 and signed the first file to provide free electricity to farmers.

Police had a tough time controlling crowds and there was a virtual stampede outside stadium.