Shillong/Nongpoh, Sep 14: A state funeral for former Chief Minister DD Lapang, who passed away on September 12, will be held on Monday, with friends, family, well-wishers from among the general public and politicians from across the spectrum expected to attend.
The government had declared a three-day state mourning period from September 13 and also decided to honour Lapang, who was a towering figure in Meghalaya politics for several years, with a state funeral.
The funeral service will begin at 1pm at Students’ Field in Jaiaw. The funeral cortege will thereafter proceed to Jaiaw Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Weiking, for the burial.
The funeral proceedings will be live-streamed through the official social media handles of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) on Facebook and YouTube, and through the ABC Digest YouTube Channel.
Traffic diversions will apply in several parts of Shillong on the morning of the funeral in areas around Lapang’s home in Lachumiere (where the body has been kept), Jaiaw, Wahingdoh, Motphran and Mawkhar.
Lapang passed away on September 12, at around 10:40pm at Bethany Hospital, following age-related illness. He was 96.
He is survived by his wife Amethyst Lynda Jomes Blah and son, Badaplak Robert Blah.
Ri-Bhoi remembers former MLA
Meanwhile, as a mark of final respect to Lapang, who was the former MLA of Nongpoh as well as ex-CM, various groups including schools, colleges, social organisations, the Ri Bhoi Dorbar, church bodies and elders of Ri-Bhoi today held a memorial prayer service for the eternal peace of his soul.
The event took place at a monument to Lapang at Ri Bhoi College. The programme was led by Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem in the presence of Nongpoh MDC Rona Khymdeit, senior citizen Rangkynsai Makdoh, Principal of Alpha English Higher Secondary School W Blah, Principal of Ri Bhoi College Elizabeth Kharkongor and others.
Floral tributes were also laid at his memorial monument as a mark of respect.
The Ri-Bhoi district administration has also announced that all government offices, revenue and magisterial courts, educational institutions, banks and financial institutions within the district will remain closed on Monday as a mark of honour and respect to Lapang and in recognition of his distinguished services to the state and its people.
