GUWAHATI, Nov 5 � Legendary musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika is no more. Death snatched him away around 4-35 pm today at the Mumbai-based Dhirubhai Kokilaben Ambani Hospital. The hospital authorities formally declared his death around 4-37 pm. According to doctors attending on him, Dr Hazarika passed away due to cardiac failure. He was admitted to the hospital on June 29 last following breathing problems.
The body would be brought to Guwahati after arrangements by the State Government for the last rites are finalised. However, Dr Hazarika�s body would be taken to his Mumbai residence before being flown to Guwahati for the last rites.
During his last hours, his sister-in-law and artiste Monisha Hazarika, writer Anuradha Sarma Pujari and her husband Pabitra Pujari, filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi and a host of relatives and fans were there by his side.
Maharashta Chief Minister is expected to pay his last respect to Dr Hazarika at the hospital this evening itself. Renowned singer Lata Mangeshkar has also conveyed her condolence to the bereaved family members over phone.
Fans gathered at the Nizarapar (Guwahati) family residence of the Hazarikas to sympathise with the family members.
Hazarika's health deteriorated on October 23, after he developed pneumonia. He had to undergo a minor surgery whereby doctors placed a food pipe into his system.
The balladeer, who composed his own lyrics and music, last lent his voice to the film Gandhi To Hitler, where he sang Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav jan'.
Hazarika was regarded as one of the greatest living cultural communicators of South Asia. He had been a poet, journalist, singer, lyricist, musician, filmmaker and writer.
The Padma Bhushan awardee had celebrated his birthday this year in the ICU of the hospital on September 8 when he cut a cake and fans sang his favourite numbers.
