Jharkhand's Education Minister Jagarnath Mahato passed away in Chennai on Thursday. Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced about the tragic development. He went on say that the state has lost one of its very popular leaders. Notably, Mahato was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chennai. He is survived by a son and four daughters.
"Irreparable damage! Our Tiger Jagarnath Da is no more! Today Jharkhand has lost one of its great agitators, combative, hardworking and popular leaders. Respected Jagarnath Mahato ji passed away during treatment in Chennai. May God give peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this difficult hour of grief," CM Soren wrote on Twitter.
Mahto, the four-time JMM MLA from Dumri in Giridih district, was taken to Chennai in October 2020, where he had undergone the transplant as his lungs were damaged due to the COVID-19 infection, Dr Apar Jindal of MGM Healthcare said. He further said that the minister had returned to Ranchi after eight months in June 2021. "Mahto breathed his last today," Dr Jindal added.
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Jharkhand govt declares two-day mourning
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand government declared mourning for two days from April 6 in honour of Mahto, during which no official ceremony would be held. According to a state government notification, the cabinet meeting scheduled this evening was cancelled.
(With PTI inputs)
