Queen of Melody Lata Mangeshkar passes away

Mumbai: Lata Mangeshkar, India's legendary singer who sang for generations of Indians, passed away on Sunday, succumbing to multiple organ failures, her sister and doctors treated her informed. Aged 92, Lata took her last breath at 8:12 in the morning, her sister Usha Mangeshkar told PTI.

According to her doctor, Dr Pratit Samdani of Breach Candi hospital, Lata tested Covid-19 positive nearly a month ago. Lata's last rites will be held Sunday evening, cremation at Shivaji Park here. Two-day mourning has been announced on Lata' demise on 6th and 7th February. Government sources informed that the National Flag would be flying half-mast for the two days as a mark of respect.

After testing Covid-19 positive in January and contracting pneumonia, Lata was hospitalized and was admitted to the intensive care unit for two weeks. When she showed improvement, she was released from the ventilator. But on February 5, her health deteriorated, and she was put on the ventilator again.

President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted his tributes to the singer, saying that her demise is heartbreaking for him as well as millions worldwide. The Bharat Ratna laureate's accomplishments will remain incomparable, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he is joining with the grief of his fellow Indians. Lata Mangeshkar left a void in the nation that cannot be filled, he said. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, he said. Further, the PM said that lata's songs brought out a variety of emotions, and she had witnessed the transitions of Indian cinema through the decades. The minister added that she was always passionate about the country and wished to see a developed India.

PTI reports that Lata Mangeshkar, known as Queen of Melody, started training in singing at five years of age. In 1942, she started her career as a professional singer and sang 25,000 songs in 36 Indian languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil etc., for over seven decades.

Among one of the greatest playback singers, Lata Mangeshkar had received Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Dada Saheb Phalke Award and three National Film Awards. She received Bharat Ratna in 2001.

'Lag Jaa Gale', 'Mohe Panghat Pe', 'Chalte Chalte', 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram', 'Ajeeb Daastaan Hai', 'Hothon mein aisi baat', 'Pyar kiya to darna kya', 'Neela aasman so gaya', 'Pani Pani Re' were the most some of her most memorable songs.