National flag to fly at half-mast today as country mourns death of Karunanidhi

The nation is observing state mourning in the memory of M Karunanidhi, the DMK patriarch who passed away on Tuesday evening.

The tricolour would fly at half-mast.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Chennai to pay his last respects to the departed leader. He described him as a “deep-rooted mass leader, prolific thinker, accomplished writer and a stalwart whose life was devoted to the welfare of the poor and the marginalised.”

Meanwhile the DMK also announced a seven-day mourning for its departed party chief.

Hailing its leader as a “historic hero” who reigned supreme as party president for half a century since July 1969 and as Chief Minister for five terms, the DMK said in a release that all party programmes and events stand postponed for a week.

Party cadres flocked to Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram residence in droves to pay homage to their leader. Thousands of DMK workers accompanied Karunanidhi’s body as it was brought from Kauvery Hospital at Alwarpet to his residence.

Meanwhile, shops and commerical establishments in the city, including in the busy T Nagar, downed shutters and the city wore a deserted look soon after the announcement of Karunanidhi’s death. Suburban trains and buses witnessed comparatively fewer commuters since evening.

Several schools too had to sent text and voice messages to parents asking them to take their wards home ahead of the closure of regular school working hours.