The funeral procession of Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin today began from his Malabar Hill residence here, where lakhs of mourners gathered to pay tributes to the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community amid tight security arrangements.

The procession, which moved at snail’s pace, commenced around 10 a.m. from Saifee Mahal, where community members converged in huge numbers for the final journey of the 102-year-old leader, who will be laid to rest at Raudat Tahera mausoleum here at Bhendi Bazar later in the day.

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin led the Namaz-e-Janaza of the late Syedna.

As scores kept joining the procession to get a last glimpse of the spiritual head while it proceeded through Walkeshwar Road in South Mumbai, the route was closed for traffic to allow easy passage.

Thousands of people from all walks of life joined hands to form a human chain across the road and bid a tearful adieu to the departed leader, who passed away after a cardiac arrest here yesterday.

The body of the departed leader was placed in a flower-adorned casket draped with the national flag atop an open vehicle, escorted by policemen, immediate family and community heads.

Earlier in the wee hours today, at least 18 people were killed and 40 injured when a stampede broke out in the Malabar Hill area when Syedna’s followers started thronging his house after learning about his death.

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