Markets in Rajkot remained closed for half of Saturday as a mark of respect for Vijay Rupani, the former Chief Minister of Gujarat, who died in the Ahmedabad Plane Crash on Thursday, reported ANI. The senior BJP leader was among the 241 people on board the ill-fated London-bound Air India Flight AI171, which crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on Thursday afternoon.

Shops across the city stayed shut until noon, as traders and residents paid tribute to the well-known leader. Vijay Rupani had played a key role in the development of Rajkot, and many establishments voluntarily downed shutters in his honour.

ANI reported that a resident named Navneet said that Rajkot will never forget Vijay Rupani. He admired the BJP leader for all the important development projects he started and finished in the city.