Thousands bid farewell as Prateek Yadav’s final journey begins in Lucknow

The final journey of Prateek Yadav, the younger son of Samajwadi Party founder late Mulayam Singh Yadav, began in Lucknow on Thursday amid chants of "Prateek Yadav amar rahe" by thousands of supporters who gathered to pay their last respects. Prateek's mortal remains were taken from his residence to Baikunth Dham crematorium, about five kilometres away, for the last rites. Aditya Yadav, son of senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav, shouldered the bier during the procession. The body was also briefly kept at the party office located near Prateek's residence, in keeping with a traditional custom of placing the body on the ground five times before reaching the cremation ground. Prateek, known to be an animal lover, had photographs featuring him with his dogs and a monkey placed on the hearse vehicle by his wife Aparna Bisht Yadav. Aparna, a BJP leader and vice chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women's Commission, was travelling to the crematorium along with the couple's two daughters and Juna Akhara Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Swami Avdheshanand Giri. SP chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, along with Shivpal Singh Yadav, was expected to reach the cremation ground later in the day. Earlier in the morning, Prateek's body was kept at his residence for final viewing.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak paid floral tributes. Shivpal Singh Yadav and SP MP Dimple Yadav also paid their respects. Family members said Aparna and the couple's daughters remained beside Prateek's body through the night. Prateek died on Wednesday morning at the age of 38. Doctors said he suffered from cardiac and lung-related complications, including pulmonary embolism. Prateek was the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav's second wife Sadhna Gupta and a stepbrother of Akhilesh Yadav.