Mortal remains of Sharda Sinha being taken to Patna for last rites

Sharda Sinha, singer and Padma Bhushan recipient has passed away at 72. The mortal remains of the legendary folk singer Sharda Sinha on Wednesday early morning reached the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport as her last rites will be performed in Patna. She was on ventilator support at Delhi AIIMS following a health complication due to multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. The 72-year-old singer was admitted to the intensive care unit of Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH), the cancer institute of AIIMS, last month. "Sharda Sinha expired at 9.20 pm due to refractory shock as a result of septicemia," an AIIMS official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences on the demise of Sinha. "I am deeply saddened by the demise of renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha ji. Her Maithili and Bhojpuri folk songs have been very popular for the last several decades. The echo of her melodious songs associated with the great festival of faith, Chhath, will always remain. Her demise is an irreparable loss for the music world. My condolences are with her family and fans in this hour of grief. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted.

Sinha was synonymous with folk songs in Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Maghahi languages. Known as Bihar Kokila, Supaul-born Sinha was famous in her native state and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh courtesy her folk songs sung on occasions like Chhath Puja and weddings. Some of her popular tracks are "Chhathi Maiya Aayi Na Duaariya", "Kartik Maas Ijoriya", "Dwar Chekai", "Patna Se", and "Koyal Bin".

Sinha's credits include Bollywood songs such as "Taar Bijli" from "Gangs of Wasseypur- II", "Babul" from "Hum Aapke Hain Koun" and "Kahe Toh Se Sajna" from "Maine Pyar Kiya". The singer had been battling multiple myeloma since 2017.

READ | Meet Sanjay Verma, the new DGP of Maharashtra who replaced Rashmi Shukla