The district administration of Rameswaram has selected three places for the funeral and would finalise a place after consulting A. P. J. M. Maraikayar, elder brother of Mr. Kalam and other family members, The Hindu reported quoting official sources.

Three places – a government land at Meyyampuli, near Thangachimadam; a forest land at Natarajapuram near Danushkodi; and a private land of Abil Kabil Dargah have been shortlisted, the sources said.

The mortal remains of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam were on Wednesday flown to his hometown Rameswaram from New Delhi in a special aircraft.

The special aircraft took off from the Palam airport at around 08:15 a.m. after all three forces gave a sendoff to the former Head of the state.

Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain were present at the airport.

The aircraft will fly to Madurai, from where the mortal remains will be flown in to Rameswaram by an IAF helicopter.

Wrapped in a tri—colour, Kalam’s body was taken to the airport in a gun carriage from his 10 Rajaji Marg residence at 7 a.m., as officials and commoners bid farewell to the man, whose life inspired countless Indians.

Mr. Naidu and Mr. Parrikar are accompanying the mortal remains of Kalam to Rameswaram. Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, who is from Tamil Nadu, will also join the two Union ministers.