The funeral procession began at 2.30 pm from the Durbar Hall in the Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram. What is typically a 39-minute drive to Kaniyapuram took nearly six hours. By 8.15 pm, the vehicle had covered just 18.1 km. People lined the roads, waiting patiently for a final glimpse of the man they considered their own.
Published Jul 22, 2025 | 9:04 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 22, 2025 | 9:04 PM
Crowds gather around the KSRTC bus carrying the mortal remains of VS Achuthanandan.
Synopsis: Kerala bid an emotional farewell to former Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader VS Achuthanandan, as tens of thousands lined the 151-km route from Thiruvananthapuram to his native Punnapra. His funeral will be held on Wednesday in Valiyachudukadu, as the state observes three days of official mourning.
As the sun dipped below the horizon on Tuesday, 22 July, a red wave swept across Kerala. Streets turned into rivers of emotion as tens of thousands gathered to bid a final farewell to VS Achuthanandan.
VS Achuthanandan’s mortal remains en route to Durbar Hall.
The 101-year-old former Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader, who passed away on 21 July, began his final journey from Thiruvananthapuram to his native Punnapra in Alappuzha – a 151-km route that has become a corridor of remembrance.
Flags fluttered, fists rose in salute, and chants of “Inquilab Zindabad” echoed through towns and villages. The funeral procession began at 2.30 pm from the Durbar Hall in the Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram.
What is typically a 39-minute drive to Kaniyapuram took nearly six hours. By 8.15 pm, the vehicle had covered just 18.1 km. People lined the roads, waiting patiently for a final glimpse of the man they considered their own.
Achuthanandan’s body is being carried in a specially modified KSRTC AC low-floor bus), fitted with a glass partition, a freezer unit, and red-carpeted interiors.
Portraits, garlands, and slogans adorn the bus, allowing people to view the leader who inspired generations.
Women, children, and the elderly stood for hours – some under the scorching sun, others in the evening drizzle – holding posters and waving red flags.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan pay their final respects.
Many wept openly. Others stood in silence. The presence of even young children, born decades after Achuthanandan’s most active political years, spoke volumes.
Earlier in the day, crowds gathered at his son’s residence and at the Durbar Hall to pay their respects. Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, opposition leaders, and other dignitaries were among those who paid tribute.
The long queues at the Secretariat meant not everyone managed to see him one last time. A ceremonial guard of honour by the Kerala Police added a note of solemnity to the occasion.
Alappuzha district authorities have identified eight major halting points – Ochira, KPAC Junction, Karilakulangara, Nangyarkulangara, Haripad, Thottappally, and TD Medical College Junction – where the public can offer homage late Tuesday night.
On Wednesday morning, the body will be taken from Achuthanandan’s residence in Punnapra to the CPI(M) District Committee office in Alappuzha via Pazhaya Nadakkavu, Kaithavana, and Pazhavidu.
From there, the procession will pass through Thiruvambady, the General Hospital, and the Collectorate, before being kept for public viewing at the Police Recreation Ground.
The funeral will be held at 3 pm on Wednesday at Valiyachudukadu in Punnapra – a site historically associated with the 1946 workers’ uprising that Achuthanandan often recalled.
Crowds at Kazhakootam.
It is a fitting resting place for a leader who remained deeply connected to his roots.
To manage the crowds, Alappuzha police have imposed traffic restrictions. Separate routes have been designated for vehicles coming from Ernakulam, Kayamkulam, and AC Road.
Parking areas have been allotted at SD College Ground and Chinmaya Vidyalaya. Traffic on Pazhaya Nadakkavu Road will remain closed from 11 pm on 22 July to 11 am on 23 July.
The Kerala government declared a public holiday on Tuesday and announced three days of official mourning. The national flag will be flown at half-mast across the state. A public holiday has also been declared in Alappuzha on 23 July.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
