SHIMLA, July 9: Veteran Congress leader Virbhadra Singh, who was Chief Minister
of Himachal Pradesh six times, died at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC)
hospital here on Thursday at the age of 87 due to post-covid complications.
The State Government has declared 3-day mourning as a mark of respect to the
former Chief Minister. His body was kept at his residence in Holly Lodge in
Lower Jakhu here for the public to pay their last respects. The cremation will
take place in Rampur, his native place, on Saturday.
A sitting MLA from Arki in Solan district, Virbhadra Singh belonged to the
erstwhile royal family of Bushahr. He enjoyed massive popular support. He had
won nine Assembly and five Lok Sabha elections. Four times State Congress president,
he had also served in Indira Gandhi's Cabinet. He made the green Kinnauri cap
his trademark.
Virbhadra Singh tested positive for covid on April 12 and was treated at Max
hospital, Mohali. He had a second infection and was admitted to IGMC here later
for treatment of long covid. On July 5 he was put on ventilator.
Party president Sonia Gandhi said, Virbhadra Singh was "popular for his affable
and grounded nature."