Jaipur, May 3 -- Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Girija Vyas was on Friday cremated in Rajasthan's Udaipur district where senior party leaders gathered to pay their respects. She died on Thursday in a hospital in Ahmedabad. She was 79 years old. The funeral procession started from her residence in Daitya Nagar to Ashok Nagar crematorium. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former minister Ramlal Jat shouldered her bier. A large number of Congress worker, her supporters and city residents also present in the procession. On her demise, Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter expressing grief over the mishap that led to her death. "I am shocked due to the sudden demise of Girija Vyas after a month long treatment following the fire tragedy happened with her. Her passing away is a loss for the Congress party, literature fraternity. Her contribution in social, political and education field will be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved family," Gandhi said in the letter. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge also expressed grief. "The news of the demise of former Union Minister, former State President of Rajasthan Congress and senior Congress leader, Dr. Girija Vyas is extremely sad," Kharge said on X. She served the country and the Congress Party in many important capacities as Union Minister, MP, MLA, Chairperson of the Women's Commission, Chairperson of the AICC Ideology Department and Editor of Congress Sandesh, Kharge said. "An intellectual politician, an influential orator and an able administrator, her demise is an irreparable loss to the Congress family," he said. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly Tika Ram Jully were also present in the meeting ahead of funeral procession. From becoming a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly at the age of just 25, she dedicated four decades to the Congress and public service in various constitutional and organisational roles. According to family members, she suffered severe burns while performing aarti at her home in Udaipur city of Rajasthan on March 31 when her dupatta caught fire from a diya....