Kalam collapsed during a lecture at IIM Shillong at a function where he was the chief guest.
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam, the 'missile man' who came to be known as 'People's President' died on Monday after he collapsed during a lecture at the IIM Shillong.
Kalam, who would have turned 84 in October, was confirmed dead more than two hours after he was wheeled into the ICU of Bethany hospital in a critical condition following the collapse at around 6.30pm.
Meghalaya Governor V Shanmughanathan, who rushed to the hospital on hearing the news of his admission, said Kalam died at 7.45 pm. Despite medical team best efforts, he could not be revived.
Chief Secretary P B O Warjiri told reporters outside the hospital that he had spoken to Union Home Secretary L C Goyal asking for necessary arrangements to be made for carrying Kalam's body from Guwahati to Delhi tomorrow morning.
"The former President has been admitted to Bethany hospital in a critical condition," M Kharkrang, SP Khasi Hills said earlier.
Doctors from the army hospital and North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) rushed to Bethany hospital but their efforts proved to be of no avail.
Related read: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's body to be taken to Delhi today
A seven-day national mourning will be declared by the Centre, Union Home Secretary L C Goyal said. Both the Houses of Parliament are likely to make obituary references and adjourn as a mark of respect to his memory.
On Monday morning, Kalam had posted on Twitter about his visit to Shillong to attend an event.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra expressed their condolences via Twitter.
Union Minister Arun Jaitley and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi too expressed condolences.
Born and raised in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Kalam studied physics and aerospace engineering. He served as the President of India from 2002 to 2007 and was awarded the nation's top civilian awards, including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Bharat Ratna.
Kalam spent four decades as a scientist and science administrator, at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He was the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Prime and the Secretary of the DRDO from 1992 to 199. The Pokhran II nuclear tests were conducted during this period.
He also wrote 14 books on various topics including India 2020, Wings of Fire and Ignited Minds. Also read: Tributes pour in for Abdul Kalam on Twitter
(With Agency Inputs)
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