Former India President Pranab Mukherjee dies at 84

Photo courtesy: Twitter/@CitiznMukherjee
Photo courtesy: Twitter/@CitiznMukherjee

Former India President Pranab Mukherjee has died at 84, weeks after undergoing a brain surgery. Mukherjee served as President of India from 2012 till 2017. 

He was admitted to hospital on August 10 to undergo a surgery to remove a clot in the brain, following which he developed complications. He had also tested positive for COVID-19. Since then he has been battling ill health, slipping into a come and requiring ventilator support.  

On the morning of August 31, the Army's Research and Referral Hospital, where he was admitted, had reported a decline in condition, saying that he had gone into a septic shock. 

The news of his passing was tweeted by his son Abhijit Mukherjee.

"With a Heavy Heart , this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital & prayers ,duas & prarthanas from people throughout India ! I thank all of You," he tweeted. 

Pranab Mukherjee was the 13th President of India and was awarded the Bharat Ratna in August last year. 

Following the news of his demise, tributes poured in from various quarters: