Jayalalithaa death: Centre announces one-day national mourning

Frank Noronha,Principal Spokesperson, Government of India & Director General,Press Information Bureau, tweeted: "Departed leader Selvi #Jayalalithaa will be accorded a State Funeral ; One day state mourning declared by Central Government (1/2)."

"Mourning for departed leader Selvi #Jayalalithaa : Flags will be flown at half mast ; no ceremonial functions will be organized (2/2)," he said.

People lined up at Rajaji Hall on Tuesday to pay last respect to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who passed away at a hospital in Chennai on Monday.

Actor Vijay also went to the hall to pay homage to the AIADMK supremo.

"Actor Vijay paid his last respects to Puratchi Thalaivi Amma at Rajaji Hall," the AIADMK tweeted.

Tamil Nadu government has announced seven days mourning period when schools and colleges across the state will remain closed for three days.

One-day national mourning has been announced by the Centre to mark the demise of the leader.

Jayalalithaa passed away at a hospital in Chennai on Monday.

Jayalalithaa was in Apollo Hospital since Sept 22 and then suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening and was put on an extracorporeal membrane heart assist device, a life support system that aids heart and lung functioning.

Jayalalithaa Jayaraman  was born on 24 February 1948 and was popularly and fondly referred to as Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi by members in her party.

While she last assumed the office of CM in 2015, she previously served as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, in 2001, from 2002 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2014.

Senior AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam on Tuesday. took oath as the new chief minister of the state.