RIP Prince: Over 8 lakh people to attend final rites of Mukarram Jah

Hyderabad: On Wednesday morning, the old city in Hyderabad wore black as a mark of respect to the Titular Nizam of Hyderabad Mukarram Jah Bahadur, who passed away on 14 January in Turkey.

Black flags were put up in many markets as a mark of respect. Schools and shops in the old city remained closed. The last Nizam of Hyderabad will be laid to rest in the family’s vault in the forecourt of Mecca Masjid on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, several dignitaries visited Chowmahalla Palace where the mortal remains of Mukarram Jah are kept for the public from 8 am to 1 pm on Wednesday to pay their last respects. The Registrar of Osmania University paid tributes.

Wasat Hussain, Secretary of Nizam's Trusts; Shahid Hussain Zuberi; Raunaq Yar Khan, member of the family; Asif Pasha,ex-minister; Anees Hussain, and SA Huda, all Nizam Trustee members paid their respects.

Prince Mufakkham Jah Bahadur to attend the funeral ceremony at the Chowmohallah Palace.

Congress leaders pay tributes

Former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president and former Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao along with Congress leaders A.R. Laxman Yadav, S.P. Kranti Kumar, and Daulat Ram paid his last respects. On Tuesday, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Home Minister Mohammed Ali Khan, and AIMIM President Azaduddin Owaisi paid their respects to the last Nizam of Hyderabad.

TPCC president Revanth Reddy, former Legislative Council party leader Shabbir Ali, Malluravi and other leaders paid tributes to 8th Nizam Mir Barkat Ali Khan Siddiqui Mukarram Jha. Revanth Reddy consoled Nizam's family members.

At around 3 pm, the mortal remains will be transported to Mecca Masjid. After Salat Al-Asr (the afternoon prayer) at 4:45 pm, Salathul Janaaza (Islamic funeral prayer) will be performed. Around 8 lakh people are expected to be present for the prayers.

The Telangana government has decided to accord a funeral with full police honors to Mukarram Jah and arrangements are being done in coordination with all the departments of the Telangana government, Nizam's family members, and trustees. A.K Khan, the advisor to the Telangana government, has been appointed by the state government to ensure all preparations are in place for the state funeral. Nawab Faiz Khan, the trustee of Mukarram Jah Trust for Education and Learning, is overseeing the funeral arrangements from the side of the Nizam family.

In the State funeral of Asaf Jah VII, the coffin was draped with the Asaf Jahi Flag – the Nizam's Flag.