Hazarika's body flown to Assam; to be cremated tomorrow

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The mortal remains of legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika were on Monday flown to Assam where his last rites will be conducted on Tuesday.

"The body was taken by close family members from the hospital at 6.50 AM. We have been informed that it will reach at 11.30 AM in Guwahati by a flight. The funeral will take place on Tuesday at one pm on the banks of Brahmaputra for which arrangements have been made by the Assam government," Dr Ram Naren, COO, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital, said on Monday.

The 86-year-old music doyen died of multi-organ failure on Saturday at the hospital here, where he was undergoing treatment since June 29, after he complained of breathlessness. Since then he was confined to bed.

His health deteriorated on October 23, after he developed pneumonia. The veteran had to undergo a minor surgery whereby doctors placed a food pipe into his system.

Hazarika was regarded as one of the greatest living cultural communicators of South Asia. He was also known as a poet, journalist, singer, lyricist, musician, filmmaker and writer.

The balladeer who composed his own lyrics and music, last lent his voice to the film Gandhi To Hitler, where he sang Mahatma Gandhi's favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav jan'.