India bids farewell to Lata Mangeshkar: Mah govt readies for funeral; PM Modi reaches Mumbai
Mumbai: The demise of singing legend Lata Mangeshkar on Sunday plunged the country into mourning as eminent personalities from varied fields expressed their sadness over the passing away of the icon.
Nonagenarian Lata, fondly known as 'Didi', breathed her last at the Breach Candy Hospital here this morning following a brief illness.
Subsequently, condolence messages poured from top echelons of the Centre to state governments to cricket to Bollywood to industries bodies, to mention a few.
While the Centre declared a two days national mourning on Feb 6-7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already reached Mumbai so as to bid final adieu to Didi.
As a mark of respect, the Maharashtra government declared to cremate her with full state honours at the historic Shivaji Park.
Will be leaving for Mumbai in some time to pay my last respects to Lata Didi.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2022
Meanwhile, Environment Minister and Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray has reached the Park and is overseeing the arrangements for Didi's last rites which will be performed at 6.30 pm today.
Whereas, Lata's body has been brought to her residence 'Prabhu Kunj' where prominent people were flocking to have a last glimpse of her.
In their condolence messages, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the demise as an “irreparable loss” while Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi remarked it as “an era's end”.
Similarly, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh said, “Lata Mangeshkar's voice will last forever. She was the pride of India, and will be immortal.”
From the tinsel town, veteran actor Dharmendra and Salman Khan expressed sorrow over Didi's death and prayed that her soul rests in peace.
In the music fraternity, singers AR Rahman, Kailash Kher and Pandit Sajan Mishra remembered her enduring legacy and lyricist Santosh Anand felt “devastated” at the grim news.
A heavy-hearted Sachin Tendulkar even rushed to the Breach Candy Hospital as he came to know about the death.
In a similar vein, Agarwal Marwadi Chambers of Commerce, Industries and Education National President Rajesh Agarwal and VP Kamalraj Bansal found it “difficult to describe the pain in words”.
(Image credit: Wallpaper Cave/UNI)
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