People from all walks of life on Saturday poured in at the Rock Garden in Chandigarh to pay their last respects to Nek Chand, the man behind the iconic creation who breathed his last on Friday.
The mortal remains of Chand were kept at the Rock Garden on Saturday for the public to pay their last respects. His funeral procession will pass through the city later on Saturday and the cremation will be held in the evening, his family members said.
Among the prominent persons who visited Rock Garden were Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator, Kaptan Singh Solanki.
Chand had been ailing for the past few days and was admitted to a private hospital in Chandigarh. He was later shifted to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), where he passed away in the early hours of Friday. He was 90.
Chand is survived by his wife Kamla, son Anuj and daughter Neelam.
Earlier on Saturday, his body was taken to the Rock Garden from his house at Sector 27 on the same route along which Chand used to regularly cycle to the garden. Entry to the Rock Garden was made free for the public for two days since Friday.
The administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh has made necessary arrangements to bid the artistic genius a farewell with full state honours.
A roads inspector with the Public Works Department in Punjab, Chand had quietly built his magical kingdom using waste items like broken crockery, electrical fittings, glass bangles, bathroom tiles, wash basins, etc.
The Rock Garden, inaugurated in 1976, is now spread over an area of nearly 40 acres. More than 2.5 lakh people from India and abroad visit it every year. The annual revenue generated from ticket sales at Rock Garden is around Rs. 1.8 crore.
Chand’s unique art has also been showcased in museums abroad. - PTI
