SHIMLA, July 8: Six-time Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Virbhadra Singh died here early today after prolonged illness. He was 87.
The veteran leader breathed his last at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here at 3.40 am, senior Medical Superintendent, Dr. Janak Raj said.
Singh suffered from a heart attack on Monday and was critical since then. He was put on ventilator support on Wednesday after he had breathing problems, doctors said.
The nine-time MLA and five-time MP is survived by wife Pratibha Singh, son Vikramaditya Singh and four daughters.
The cremation will be held at Rampur on July 10 at 3 pm, family spokesperson Yashwant Chhajta said.
Singh’s body has been kept at his residence at Holly Lodge in Jakhu, Shimla.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda condoled the demise of Singh.
The Himachal Pradesh Government today declared a three-day state mourning as a mark of respect to Singh.
Singh had tested positive for COVID-19 on June 11 for the second time in two months.He had earlier tested positive for the disease on April 12.
He had returned to his home in Holly Lodge here on April 30 from the Chandigarh hospital after getting cured of the first infection.
However, he was admitted to IGMC within hours after reaching home, as he complained of cardiac and breathing problems. He was in the hospital ever since then. (PTI)
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