Funeral of Zionnghaka aka Zion-a, who was declared dead by doctors on Sunday, has been delayed as family members believed that the patriarch head is still alive because his pulse is still running.

76-year-old Zion-a is the head of what is believed to be the largest family in the world.

He also headed Lalpa Kohhran thar, a religious sect founded by his uncle Khuangtuaha, which survives in a hilly village since 1942.

The sect secretary Zaitinkhuma said that Ziona’s funeral is being delayed as the leader has regained pulse when he was brought home from a hospital on Sunday.

He said his pulse was found through pulse Oximeter and still exists.

“His (Zion-a) body is still warm. His family members and people of Chhuanthar can’t bury him under such condition,” he said.

Ziona, who has diabetes, high blood pressure and old-age related ailments, was rushed to Trinity hospital in Aizawl on Sunday where he was declared brought dead at 3 pm.

He remained unconscious since Saturday (June 12).

The hospital director Dr. Lalrintluanga Zahau had told news agency that the septuagenarian was already dead by the time he was brought to the hospital.

Though Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was performed to revive him, he showed no sign of recovery, he had said.

Chief minister Zoramthanga, former chief minister and state congress president Lal Thanhawla and Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) leader Lalduhoma had also announced the demise of the leader and condoled the bereaved family in their tweets on Sunday.

Ziona, his family and members of his sect live at Chhuanthar in Baktawng village, about 60 km south-east of Aizawl.

He married to 39 wives and has over 90 children.

His sect has more than 2,500 members from 433 families, according to Chhuanthar village council president Ramzuava.

The sect preaches polygamy for its male members.

Chhuanthar, dominantly inhabited by Ziona’s cult members, is administered under a separate village council bifurcated from Baktawng village council in 2004.

Besides the world’s largest family tag, Chhuanthar is famous for its social formation, discipline, hard work and keenness on cleanliness by the people.

The people of Chhuanthar also largely practice carpentry (furniture business) and their products are widely sold not only across Mizoram but outside the state.