Tributes for 'titan' Tata

Crowds of mourners gathered in India's financial capital Mumbai yesterday for the funeral of industrialist Ratan Tata, hailed as a "titan" who led one of the country's biggest conglomerates.

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Tata, who died aged 86 on Wednesday, transformed the Tata Group into a sprawling international enterprise, with a portfolio ranging from software to sports cars.

His coffin, draped in an Indian flag, was flanked by a guard of honour, with a marching band of trumpets and drums accompanying the procession. "A titan of Indian industry", The Hindu newspaper's front page said. "India loses its crown jewel", the Hindustan Times wrote.

The hundreds who paid tribute yesterday included ordinary people, high-profile business leaders, politicians and Tata staff.