Bal Thackeray begins final journey, thousands turn up to mourn him

Uddhav and Aditya Thackeray lead Bal Thackeray's funeral procession out of Matoshree on Sunday as a sea of grieving people converged to pay their respects to the Shiv Sena chief.

Bal Thackeray's body was carried on a flower bedecked truck it made its way amid supporters raising slogans.

The funeral cortege, which started from Matoshree, the residence of the Thackeray clan, will journey to the party headquarters Sena Bhavan and then head to Shivaji Park in Dadar.

The body will be kept for a public 'darshan' for over 200,000 people who are expected to turn up.

After allowing several thousands of Shiv Sainiks from all over the state to pay their last respects, the body will be cremated at Shivaji Park.

Mumbai police have made elaborate security arrangements by deploying 20,000 policemen, 15 companies of State Reserve Police and three companies of Rapid Action Force to deal with any situation.

Mumbai, which resembled a ghost city since Saturday evening, has remained calm and peaceful as news of Thackeray's death began to sink in.

All major roads and public places were deserted barring the odd security vehicles, some Shiv Sena activists moving around or a few delayed office-goers scampering home.

Top VVIPs from all over India are expected to arrive for Thackeray's funeral, slated at 6pm on Sunday evening at Shivaji Park.