Vajpayee's ashes arrive in Bihar, immersion to commence from

Thousands of BJP supporters today thronged the airport here today when ashes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was brought from New Delhi for immersion in rivers flowing through Bihar.

As state BJP president Nityanand Rai deplaned, carrying the urn containing the ashes, the sprawling landscape reverberated with chants of "Atal Bihari amar rahen".

The ashes were taken to the party's state headquarters - a few kilometres away - in an open vehicle wherein a life-size garlanded portrait of Vajpayee was installed and which the supporters kept showering with flower petals until the procession reached Birchand Patel Marg.

Those who paid tributes to the deceased former Premier included Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, Union ministers Radha Mohan Singh, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Giriraj Singh and Ramkripal Yadav and Lok Sabha member Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Immersion of ashes will take place from tomorrow when "asthi kalash yatras" will be taken out in different parts of the state by various leaders over a three-day period.

While Rai will be in Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Jhanjharpur and Supaul districts, Sushil Modi and Ram Kripal Yadav will be in Punpun on the outskirts of the state capital.

Radha Mohan Singh will cover East Champaran and West Champaran districts while Giriraj Singh has been entrusted with Jehanabad, Nalanda, Nawada and Gaya.

Local MPs and MLAs are expected to join the yatras when these pass through their constituencies.