Vajpayee’s ashes to now be immersed in Sangam on Aug 25

ALLAHABAD:The immersion of the Allahabad

The immersion of the ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Sangam, earlier scheduled for August 22, has now been deferred to August 25.

The urn containing the ashes would reach Allahabad from Lucknow on August 24 evening after passing through various districts and immersed in Sangam the next day, said city unit president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Awadhesh Gupta.

“The urn will be kept overnight at Circuit House before being taken to Sangam on August 25. It will be taken to various localities of Allahabad so that people may pay last respect to the departed leader,” he added.

Local BJP office-bearers on Monday received a fax informing them about the change in the schedule of immersion.

The shift has, however, come as a relief for the district administration and police officials who earlier faced the task of managing the procession and immersion on the day of Bakrid and that too at a very short notice.

Officials said they would get adequate time to ensure peaceful celebrations on Bakrid and then make proper arrangements for immersion. Ashes of the former PM will reach Lucknow on August 23 and immersed in Gomti. Another urn containing the ashes will be sent to Vajpayee’s paternal village Bateshwar in Agra. “The remaining 16 urns will be sent from the BJP state headquarters to different cities of the state for immersion on August 24 and August 25,” a local BJP office-bearer said.

BJP leaders in Allahabad have decided to welcome the urn at Shantipuram crossing on August 24 evening and escort it to Circuit House after offering floral tributes. Welcome gates will also be set up on the route through which the urn will pass.