Indian minister Ananth Kumar, 59, dies
The Karnataka government declared a three-day mourning in the state
Bengaluru: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar died on Monday at a private hospital here due to multi-organ failure, a party spokesman said. He was 59.
"Kumar passed away at around 3am at Shankara Cancer Hospital in the city's southern suburb due to multi-organ failure three weeks after he was admitted on return from the US on October 21," party's spokesman S Shantaram told IANS.
The Minister is survived by his widow Tejaswani and two daughters Aishwaraya and Vijayeta.
Kumar, who represented the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency since 1996, had undergone treatment for cancer in the UK and US since August.
"Kumar first went to London after the monsoon session of Parliament in July-August for treatment and was shifted to another hospital in the US. The cancer spread to other parts of the body, resulting in multi-organ failure," added Shantaram.
The Karnataka government on Monday declared a three-day mourning in the state following the death of Ananth Kumar, an official statement said.
"Three-day mourning and one-day state holiday (on Monday) will be observed in the state as an homage to Ananth Kumar who breathed his last this morning," a statement from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's office said.
All schools and state government offices across Karnataka will remain shut on Monday.
"Central government offices in the city will also be closed," state unit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson S. Shantaram told IANS.
The central government on Monday announced to fly the National Flag at half-mast throughout the country to honour late Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar.
"Following the unfortunate demise of Ananth Kumar, it has been decided that National Flag will fly at half-mast throughout the country today," a Union Home Ministry statement said.
As a mark of respect, a state funeral will be accorded, it added.