Virbhadra Singh, former Himachal Pradesh CM and Congress leader, passes away

Virbhadra Singh tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) twice in two months - on April 12 and June 11. He was was being treated at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla since April.

Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister and senior Congress leader Virbhadra Singh passed away on Thursday, Dr Janak Raj Pakhretia, the medical superintendent of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla told news agency ANI. He was 87.

File photo of senior Congress leader and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh. (HT Photo)

Dr Janak said that the Congress leader breathed his last at 3.40am.

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagat Prakash Nadda expressed their condolences on Singh's demise, a BJP spokesperson said on Thursday.

Virbhadra Singh was being treated at the IGMC since April 23.

Watch | Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh passes away

On Monday night, the condition of the Congress leader deteriorated after he suffered a cardiac arrest. Singh was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital and was on ventilator support.

Singh tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) twice in two months - on April 12 and June 11.

In April, he was taken to Max Hospital in Mohali. Singh was discharged on April 23 but on his arrival in Shimla, he developed breathing difficulty and was admitted to IGMC.

Singh also remained the leader of Opposition from March 1998 to March 2003.

He represented Arki constituency in Solan district in Himachal Pradesh assembly.

Singh's wife Pratibha Singh and son Vikramaditya Singh are also politicians. Pratibha is former MP, while Vikramaditya is MLA from Shimla rural.