Hyderabad: The Telangana government declared a holiday across the state on Tuesday as a mark of respect to former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who passed away yesterday following a massive cardiac arrest.
"The Government of Telangana deeply mourns the sudden demise of former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam and declares that all government offices, local bodies and educational institutions shall remain closed today as a mark of respect to the departed soul," a state government release said.
Describing Kalam as a "great humanist", Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao said the former president's death is a "great loss to the country."
Rao also recalled Kalam's long stint in Hyderabad as a scientist and his contributions which made him "the Missile Man".
Kalam, who was affectionately known as the 'People's President', died on Monday after he suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed during his lecture at IIM Shillong.
