(Image source from: www.News18.com)

The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were cremated at Smriti Sthal in New Delhi on Friday.

Vajpayee, 93, had passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2018, at All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

Indian and world leaders offered condolences for the death of the three-time Prime Minister, who was accorded a state funeral with full military honors.

The procession was accompanied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah from the BJP headquarters to Smriti Sthal.

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali, Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, acting Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Lakshman Kiriella paid their last respects to the former PM.

The tricolor that was draped over the mortal remains of Vajpayee was folded and handed over to his granddaughter Niharika.

Following this, his body was cremated according to Hindu rituals, and he was accorded a 21-gun salute.

By Sowmya Sangam