The Bard of Brahmaputra Bhupen Hazarika no more

The country lost one of its music doyens today as singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika, who wove a magical tapestry out of traditional Assamese music and lyrics, died at a hospital in Mumbai following a prolonged illness.

"It was a multi-organ failure. The end came around 4.30 pm," Jayanta Narayan Saha, in-charge of media relations at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital here, said.

Doctors specified the organ dysfunction as pneumonia-led.

"He was in the ICU for the past four months. His condition was fluctuating. For the last three or four days his health deteriorated and he became weak. He was on ventilator and dialysis," said Dr Ram Narain, CEO of the hospital.

The 86-year-old Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner was undergoing treatment at the hospital since June 29, after he complained of breathlessness. Since then he was confined to the hospital bed.

His long-time companion and filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi was beside him when he died.

Hazarika's death has left millions of his fans shocked. Leaders and well-wishers have condoled his death. President Pratibha Patil described him as "a creative genius whose deep baritone voice was instantly recognised by poetry and music lovers across the nation".

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Hazarika's "sad demise, India has lost one of its most gifted artists".

His native state Assam went into mourning with people gathering at his Guwahati residence and lighting lamps in their houses as a mark of respect.

It is not clear when his body will be flown back home. While Saha said the body will remain in the hospital today and would be flown to Assam tomorrow, Hazarika's family said the mortal remains are likely to be brought to Guwahati on Monday.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi directed Culture Affairs Minister Pranati Phukan and senior officials to rush to Mumbai for bringing back Hazarika's body to the state.