Gen Sundarji, a flamboyant soldier who steered the Indian army from 1986 to 1988, died after a long illness on Monday night, at the army hospital here. He was 69.

The body was brought in a gun carriage from the General's residence at 6, Baird Place, where it was kept in state since yesterday, to the crematorium. Jawans lined up both sides of the road, as the body wrapped in the National tricolour was carried by pall bearers for about 500 yards to the pyre.

An all-religion prayer was recited before the cremation. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister.

As a gun salute was given in tribute, the funeral pyre was lit by Gen Sundarji's 12 year old grandson Avram, who was helped by his mother Padma and the former ArmyChief's widow, Vani.

Besides a large number of service officers, the funeral was attended by Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Defence Secretary T R Prasad and former union minister Rajesh Pilot.

Yesterday, hundreds of people had paid homage to the late General at his residence. Defence Minister George Fernandes, Home Minister L K Advani and Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhara Raje Scindia were among the large number of people who paid their last respects.

Tributes continued to pour in from across the country, as people acknowledged the contribution of the ``Thinking General''.

Former Jammu and Kashmir governor General K V Krishna Rao, a former Army Chief, today said General Sundarji played an important role in the build up of the armoured and mechanised forces of the army.

``He always displayed an original and innovative approach. He was a trainer par excellence. In him, the country has lost a fine soldier and an able military leader,'' General Raosaid.