Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prakash Pant, who was battling with cancer for some time, passed away in Texas in the USA on Wednesday.
The 58-year-old Pant was undergoing treatment for a lung ailment. As the news of his demise reached the State on Wednesday evening, it elicited a wave of grief across the political spectrum and public especially in his home district of Pithoragarh from where he was also the MLA.
The first sign of his ailment was seen when he collapsed while delivering the Budget address in the Vidhan Sabha during February this year.
Later he underwent treatment for some time in Dehradun and was recently shifted to a hospital in Delhi. From there he was taken to a hospital in Texas, USA on May 30.
The Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had recently temporarily taken over his portfolios since he was undergoing treatment. Following his demise, the State government has declared three day State mourning.
All Government offices will remain closed on Thursday. Meanwhile, sources informed that if the necessary formalities are completed on time, his body could be brought back to the State on Thursday. His cremation is expected to take place in his home district of Pithoragarh.