Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi led the state in paying respect to former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, calling Kalam's death an "irreparable loss" to the nation. "It is an irreparable loss to the nation. He loved children, he loved the nation. I have met him many times. I took him to rural areas of Assam. He was a very simple and honest man. Along with India, entire state is mourning his death," Gogoi said. Kalam was one of the most popular faces of the country and he was "young in spirit till his last moment", he said. Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta also paid his respect to Kalam, the 'people's President'. After keeping it for about an hour and fifteen minutes at Guwahati, the body of Kalam was then flown to the national capital in the special aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
