Tuesday, December 20 2005 17:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Androth (Lakshadweep): It was an emotionally charged atmosphere as the helicopter carrying the coffin of the Union Power Minister, P M Sayeed, touched the Androth High school ground today (Dec 20, 2005).

The helicopter reached here at about 3 PM.

A large crowd, including women and children, had gathered since morning to pay their respects to Sayeed, who had represented them in the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1999. People from other islands had also reached here.

Sayeed's wife, son and daughters had accompanied the body.

The body would be first taken to his wife's residence and then to Jubilee town hall here where it was kept for the people to pay their last respects.

It would be taken to his ancestral home shortly before the final rites were performed later this evening.