State to observe half-day today

Kolkata: The state government has declared a half-day holiday on Friday to pay respect to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

State government offices, state government undertakings, urban local bodies, government-aided institutions, schools, colleges and universities will remain closed in the second half on Friday.

There will also be seven days of state mourning that will be observed throughout India from Thursday to August 8. During this period, the National Flag will be flown at half mast throughout the country where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning.