Former Himachal CM Shanta Kumar's wife dies of COVID-19

Wife of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shanta Kumar, passed away on early Tuesday at the age of 83.

Santosh Shailja breathed her last at Tanda Medical College, Kangra district.

According to a Chief Medical Officer Gurdarshan Gupta, Shailja was admitted to Tanda Medical College four days ago where she was tested positive on December 24. Her husband Shanta Kumar, son, daughter-in-law, two granddaughters, PS, Personal Security Officer and driver also tested positive for the virus on December 25.

Himachal Chief Minister Jairam Thakur informed about the demise through a tweet.

"I am deeply saddened to hear the sad news of the demise of Santosh Shailaja, the wife of our senior leader and former Chief Minister respected Shanta Kumar. May God give peace to the departed soul and grant the bereaved families the power to bear this unbearable grief. Om!," he tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

( With inputs from ANI )