Funeral procession of Sushil Koirala begins in Kathmandu

Funeral procession of Nepal's former Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has begun in the capital, Kathmandu.

Thousands of people including Nepal Congress sympathisers, civil society leaders, industrialists and relatives are participating in the procession.

The procession that commenced at around 2:30 pm from the Dashrath Stadium is passing through Tripureshwor, Putalisadak, Kamalpokhari, Maitidevi and Gaushala to Pashupati Aryaghat where the grand cremation will talk place this afternoon.

A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday had decided that he would be cremated with a state funeral and public holiday.

Koirala was suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Born on August 12, 1939 in Banaras, Koirala was the cousin of former prime ministers Matrika Prasad Koirala, Girija Prasad Koirala and Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala.

Koirala also spent three years in Indian prisons for his involvement in a plane hijacking in 1973.

He entered politics in 1954 and was in political exile in India for 16 years following the royal takeover of 1960.

He joined the Nepali Congress in 1952 and served in various capacities prior to becoming its president in 2010.