Ayodhya: Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the temple town for the cremation of president of Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas Paramhans Ramachandra Das, which would be attended by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee among others.

Vajpayee would arrive in Ayodhya at around 1.45 pm (IST) and would pay floral tributes to the departed soul, additional district magistrate-administration (ADM) Sudhakar Adeeb said.

The funeral procession of the Mahant would start from Digambari Akhara and after taking a round of the town, the body would be taken to the bank of Sarayu River, where it would be consigned to flames at Tulsi Ghat at about 2.00 pm (IST).

The procession would halt briefly at the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workshop, Karsevakpuram, Chhoti Chavni, Maniramdas Chavni and Hanumangarhi, the ADM said.

A condolence meeting would also be organised at the bank of the Sarayu River immediately after the cremation, VHP sources said.

Security personnel have been deployed at all the major intersections and traffic restrictions have been imposed, Adeeb said.

Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh besides several ministers in the Uttar Pradesh government would also be arriving to attend cremation of the Mahant.

PTI