Thiruvananthapuram, June 8 -- Thousands braved heavy, uninterrupted rain to stand in line in front of the Town Hall in Kerala's North Paravur on Sunday to bid farewell to Salim Kumar, Malayalam cinema's versatile comedian-actor, who passed away on Saturday due to long-standing health issues. Kumar (57) died at a private hospital in Kochi after being admitted with fever and shortness of breath. A hospital statement said that he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease and sepsis with multi-organ dysfunction. A recipient of a liver transplant a few years ago, Kumar was given ventilator support but succumbed to illness around 10.43 pm. The actor's mortal remains were shifted from the hospital to the Town Hall in North Paravur. Thousands, including actors from the film industry such as Jayaram, Navy Nair andTini Tom, and politicians including chief minister VD Satheesan, state's culture minister PCVishnunadh, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden and MLA Ramesh Pisharody, paid tribute to the actor. The remains were taken his residence in the town, where cremation took place withcomplete state honours around3 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the passing away of the veteran Malayalam actor....