The nation mourns the death of the Delhi gang rape victim in a Singapore hospital early on Saturday morning. The body is being flown back to India late tonight.

Hundreds of people gathered at Jantar Mantar in Central Delhi and other parts of the capital to pay homage to the departed soul. Cutting across the party lines, the leaders of various political parties condoled the death of the Delhi rape victim.

They also called for stringent punishment to the accused of Delhi gang rape case. Condolence message are pouring in from different quarters.

President Pranab Mukharjee has condoled the death of Delhi rape victim and urged the government to ensure that such incident do not happen again.

While speaking on the inauguration of Nirmal Kumar Phadkule Auditorium at Solapur on Saturday, he emphasized the need to uphold the dignity and security of women from all sections of the society.

In his condolence message, Vice President Md. Hamid Ansari said in the death of Delhi gang rape victim every Indian is feeling a sense of loss.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said the girl has become a powerful symbol of the ongoing battle to ensure justice for women .

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said that he was deeply saddened to learn about the death of unfortunate victim of brutal assault.

He said the nation has already seen the emotions and energies this incident has generated.

Dr. Singh said that government is examining on a priority basis,the penal provision to enhance the safety and security of women.

Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj has said that the death of the gang rape victim has shaken the conscience of the nation and all must wake up and make India safe for women.

Her counterpart in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitly stressed a need to bring strong law and fast proceedings in court to ensure prompt and strict punishment to the perpetrator of crime.

Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde pledged to strengthen laws to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. He said that the real tribute to the 23-year-old victim will be to ensure maximum punishment to the culprits

Information & Broadcasting Minister , Manish Tewari has called upon the people to maintain peace.

Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan demanded immediate punishment to the perpetrators of the crime.

Terming the gang-rape of the 23-year-old girl as a shameful incident for her as an administrator, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said one must ensure that such ghastly acts do not recur.

She also appealed to people to maintain peace and calm against the backdrop of violent demonstrations last weekend over the gang-rape incident.

Calling the 23-year-old gang-rape victim a martyr, the National Commission for Women (NCW) asked both civil society and the government to work together to stop such crimes in the future.

CPIM also demanded most stringent punishment to the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore T C A Raghavan told reporters that the formalities, including getting a death certificate, for sending her body were being completed.

A statement by the well-known multi-organ transplant facility hospital said the 23-year-old victim died at 2:15 A M Indian Standard Time early on Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has stepped up security in the national capital closing India Gate and Raisina Hill for the public, besides 10 Metro Rail stations.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed at Rajpath and the stretch connecting India Gate and Raisina Hill where large scale protests were witnessed last weekend.

A senior police official said the entire central Vista including Rajpath, Vijay Chowk and all roads leading to India Gate will be closed for general traffic.

Ten Metro stations in Central Delhi were closed down till further orders, as a precautionary measure.

These are Pragati Maidan, Mandi House, Barakhamba Road, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Race Course, Jor Bagh and Khan Market.

However, inter-change facility will be available at Rajiv Chowk and Central Secretariat stations.