MUMBAI: The spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, died here on Friday of a cardiac arrest, an official said.

According to Times on India, Dr Burhanuddin passed away at his Saifee Mahal residence in Malabar Hill in south Mumbai. As soon as the news spread, thousands of his followers gathered at the Saifee Mahal.

A pall of gloom descended on the community in Surat and hundreds of Bohras started moving out of the city in private vehicles, trains and buses towards Mumbai to pay their last tribute to the spiritual leader. A large number of people gathered at the spiritual centre at Devdi in Zampa Bazaar.