Two-day mourning in Karnataka for Wodeyar

The Karnataka government Tuesday declared a two-day mourning as a mark of respect to Mysore prince Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, 60, who died here late afternoon following cardiac arrest.

"The chief minister (Siddaramaiah) has declared two-day mourning and a public holiday Wednesday for government offices and educational institutions across the state as a tribute to prince Wodeyar," Home Minister K.J. George told reporters here.

"As Srikantadatta was the last scion of the Wodeyar dynasty and a popular prince, his body will be given a state funeral befitting his royal stature and yeomen service to the people of the state, especially Mysore city," George said.

The state government has also decided to accord a state funeral to Wodeyar Wednesday at Mysore, about 140 km from here.

As the news of Wodeyar's death spread across the city and state, several people, including ministers, political leaders, former cricketers, cine stars, and members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) visited the hospital to pay homage to Wodeyar.

Wodeyar's body was later taken to Mysore late Tuesday on road with police escort. He died at a private hospital here where he was brought after suffering a massive cardiac arrest in his sprawling Bangalore Palace in the city centre.

In Mysore, the cultural capital of the state, the Amba Vilas Palace of the Wodeyars was shut for tourists even as hundreds of people thronged the place to enquire about their prince.

Shops and markets were also closed and an eerie silence gripped the city of palaces and the cultural capital of the state.

Mysore University postponed semester exams scheduled to be held Wednesday for post-graduate students.