Former Indian president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam died at the age 84 after he collapsed while delivering a lecture in Shillong, Meghalaya at about 11.25pm.

Initial reports by local media said that Dr Kalam suffered a cardiac arrest.

The former president collapsed during the lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong and was rushed to the hospital, where he breathed his last two and a half hours later.

Immediately after the news of his passing broke out, politicians and academicians paid tribute for his pivotal role especially in nuclear technology and science education in general.

Born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Dr Kalam was India's 11th president from 2002 to 2007.

He was also known as the 'Missile Man' of India who had envisioned India to be one of the superpower nations by 2020.

He also contributed significantly to the betterment of children and women by promoting literacy among the hardcore poor.

- Bernama