Former Union minister Sambasiva Rao dies at 82

Former Union minister K Sambasiva Rao died at a private hospital here on Wednesday. He was 82. Rao was admitted to the hospital on March 6 with drowsiness followed by unresponsiveness. The hospital, in a statement, said following initial evaluation and neuroimaging, he underwent emergency neurosurgical intervention.

“Despite maximal medical and surgical treatment, the patient’s condition remained extremely critical. During the course of treatment, he developed sudden cardiac arrest, and immediate resuscitative measures were initiated by the medical team. Unfortunately, despite all possible efforts, K Sambasiva Rao could not be revived and was declared dead at 11.10 am on March 11,” it said. Rao was a Congress veteran, but joined the BJP later. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy were among those who expressed their condolences over the demise of Rao.

Born in Dosapadu in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, Rao got his engineering degree from the Regional Engineering College in Warangal. He was first elected as an MP in 1984 and was re-elected in 1989, 1998, 2004 and 2009 on behalf of Congress.

He was serving as Union Minister of Textiles for some time during the second UPA Government led by Manmohan Singh.

In separate condolence messages, Naidu and Kishan Reddy conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family members.