Pall of gloom in Vellore, 2 shock deaths in Tiruvannamalai

While Susila (60), wife of Peter of Pulirambakkam near Tiruvannamalai and an ardent supporter of Karunanidhi, died of heart attack after hearing of his death on Wednesday, Narasimhan (75) of Arni, who watched news of Karunanidhi’s death on TV, swooned and breathed his last on Tuesday evening. 

Vellore was shut down completely on Wednesday, with all shops and business establishments being closed following DMK patriarch Karunanidhi’s death. All buses were off the road, and with only limited number of autos available, fares hit the roof. Many drivers charged more than double for various destinations. For example, the charge was Rs 50 for a trip to the new bus stand from Katpadi on the other side of the Palar, compared to the usual Rs 10.

Flex boards paying homage to Karunanidhi were erected in Sathuvachari Phase I, II and III, while the national flag was flown at half-mast from the ramparts of the historic Vellore fort. People from various walks of life showed their love in various ways. While traders behind the local body’s shopping complex, Sarathi Maligai, drew a portrait of Karunanidhi and the rising sun symbol using flowers, the Tamil Nadu vocational teachers’ federation paid homage to the departed leader by passing a condolence resolution at the Vellore Teachers Home.

At Vellore old town, DMK youth paid their own symbolic last respect to the departed leader by carrying huge portrait of Karunanidhi in a flower bedecked car.