Madurai

As COVID-19 restrictions are in place, the public is restricted from approaching the memorial. Ramanathapuram Collector K Veera Raghava Rao during his brief stay offered floral tributes on the occasion and others followed suit.

According to APJMJ Sheik Saleem, grandnephew of Dr Kalam, only twenty family members of the late President offered prayers for ten minutes at the memorial initially and paid their homage.

This time, unusually, Dr Kalam’s elderly brother APJM Maraikayar, who’s at the age of 104, was not taken to the memorial due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Normally, scores of people, especially students from various districts and scientists from DRDO and ISRO would turn up to the memorial and pay their tributes to the departed legend.

1,200 saplings planted

To mark the anniversary of Dr Kalam’s death, the Ramanathapuram District Police planted as many as 1,200 saplings on its office premises and also on the premises of police stations across the district as a mark of respect to the former President. The programme was inaugurated by NM Mayilvahanan, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ramanathapuram Range) in the presence of Superintendent of Police V Varun Kumar.

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