New Delhi, Jan. 28 : Former President R. Venkataraman, who passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, was cremated at Ekta Sthal with full state honors on Wednesday.

President Pratibha DeviSingh Patil, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Leader of Opposition L. K. Advani along with several other leaders laid floral wreathes on the body of the late President before it was consigned to flames.

Earlier, the body of the late President was taken in a gun carriage by a tri-services escort from his residence in central Delhi to the cremation site. After the Tricolour draped body was placed on a bier, personnel of the three services reversed arms in homage to the late commander-in-chief. As the funeral pyre was lit by his son-in-law K. V. Venkat, the last post was sounded.

The Government has declared a seven-day period of state mourning for the departed leader. Flags on all government buildings will fly at half mast during the period. All government related functions and celebrations stand cancelled.

Venkatraman was suffering from multi-organ failure and was on advanced life support systems including ventilatory support and continuous hemodialysis from January 12.

He had served as the eighth President of the Republic of India, from 1987 to 1992. He also served seventh Vice-President of India.

He was a member of the Indian National Congress and held various ministerial positions during the course of his long and distinguished career of over six decades.(ANI)