KUALA LUMPUR - Family and friends of Hemalatha Kasippillai paid their last respects to a woman whom loved ones described as being passionate about life.

Her body was brought to her mother's home in Bangsar Park at 1pm yesterday.

Hindu priests led the funeral prayers shortly after, and the cortege left the home at 4.30pm for the Loke Yew crematorium.

Hemalatha died in the Mumbai terror attack last week after the Taj Mahal Hotel, where she was staying in, came under siege.

A post-mortem found that she had died from smoke inhalation and her body was slightly burnt.

Her sister-in-law Jaya Pushani Ponnudurai said Hemalatha had a congenital heart problem, "but that didn't stop her from leading an industrious life."

"She never used her poor health as an excuse for anything," she added.

Those who paid their respects included Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department T. Murugiah and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

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