Former HP CM Virbhadra Singh Passes Away

Shimla: Six-time Himachal Pradesh chief minister and senior Congress leader Virbhadra Singh died here early Thursday 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, he added. The nine-time MLA and five-time MP is survived by wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya Singh. While his wife is a former MP, his son is MLA from Shimla rural. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda condoled the demise of Singh.

The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday 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.