Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, known for lending her voice to numerous Indian films, has died at the age of 92, bdnews24.com reports citing PTI.
The singer was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai in early January this year after testing positive for COVID-19 and contracting pneumonia.
Though her symptoms were initially mild, she was treated in the ICU and was recovering slowly. On Jan 28, she was taken off the ventilator after showing signs of improvement, but began deteriorating again on Feb 5 and later died.
Born on September 28, 1929 in Madhya Pradesh, Mangeshkar’s career spanned nearly eight decades and saw her picking up a host of accolades, including the titles ‘The Nightingale of India’ and ‘Queen of Melody’.
India has declared two days of national mourning to commemorate the singer, ANI reports.
She will also be given a state funeral.
Mangeshkar received three National Film Awards for her work and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Indian cinema’s highest honour, in 1989. In 2001 she became only the second vocalist to receive the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India. She was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.
She also received France’s highest civilian award, ‘Officier de la Legion d’Honneur’ (Officer of the Legion of Honour) in 2009.
Mangeshkar never married, but is survived by four younger siblings - Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Khadikar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many others took to social media to pay tribute to the departed legend and reminisce about her impact on their lives, Indian music and the film industry.
Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also expressed her condolences at the passing of the singer.