Heavy rain adds to somber mood along Lee Kuan Yew procession route

The heavy downpour has not stopped Singaporeans from lining up to send Mr Lee Kuan Yew on his last journey. Members of the public are seen braving the storm outside Singapore Polytechnic. PHOTO by The Straits Times/DANIEL NEO

SINGAPORE — Heavy rain has begun to fall across several parts of Singapore where Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s state funeral procession will pass through.

The crowds who turned up early to line the roads, however, are braving the downpour with their umbrellas and ponchos.

There is heavy rain outside Parliament House, where the casket will begin the procession from, as well as at the Padang. The Shenton Way area, Clementi Road and Tanjong Pagar area near The Pinnacle@Duxton are among other areas affected by rain.

Said Mr James Wong, who is among the many lining the route: “Not even heavy rain can move us away from the road to send Mr Lee off for his last journey.”

Likewise, crowds at Tanjong Pagar and Vista Exchange Green are lining the roads in the rain.

The funeral procession will travel 15.4km, passing by major landmarks and heartland areas including Mr Lee’s Tanjong Pagar constituency.

Mr Lee’s casket will leave Parliament House, where he has been lying in state since March 25, at 12.30pm. A gun carriage will convey it to the University Cultural Centre by 1.40pm, and the funeral service is to last from 2pm till 5.15pm.

His body will then be taken to Mandai Crematorium for a private cremation.