Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar passes away at 92

Lata Mangeshkar/picture courtesy: AFP

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who was kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital, is no more. She passed away at the age of 92.
Mangeshkar was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the novel Coronavirus earlier in January. She was on the ventilator for weeks, but then on January 28, she was taken off it as she showed signs of improvement.

On Saturday, she was put on the ventilator again as she developed sepsis involving multi-organ failure. Her sister Asha Bhosle and actor Shraddha Kapoor visited the hospital late Saturday night to meet the ailing singer.

Dr P Santhanam, Breach Candy Hospital, said the team of doctors tried their best, but due to her age, Covid-19 complications became the major problem. "She came as a Covid-19 patient and was treated for the same. She was moved out of the covid ward. However, her age and covid complication involving her lungs were the deterrent factors. We tried our level best, but couldn't save her," he said.

Born on September 28, 1929, Mangeshkar began her career in the year 1942 at the age of 13. In a career spanning over seven decades, the melody queen recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films. She had sung songs in over 36 regional Indian languages and foreign languages.

In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, becoming only the second vocalist, after MS Subbulakshmi, to receive this honour.

She's also the recipient of three National Film Awards among many other honours. 'Aye Mere Vatan Ke Logon', 'Babul Pyare', Lag Ja Gale Se Phir' among others are some of her iconic songs.

Mangeshkar is survived by four younger siblings- Asha Bhosle, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Mangeshkar.

(With inputs from agencies)