Congress leader Ahmed Patel. (Photo: IANS)
NEW DELHI (Xinhua): India's opposition senior Congress party leader Ahmed Patel died Wednesday (Nov 25) morning at a hospital due to multiple organ failure after having tested positive for the Covid-19 last month, his family said.
The 71-year-old Patel was undergoing treatment at a local hospital in the outskirts of Delhi, where he was admitted after his health worsened after contracting Covid-19.
"With profound grief and sorrow, I regret to announce the sad and untimely demise of my father, Ahmed Patel on 25-11-2020 at 3:30 a.m. (local time). After testing positive for Covid-19 around a month back, his health worsened further due to multiple organ failures," Patel's son Faisal in a statement said, urging family well-wishers to adhere to the Covid-19 regulations by avoiding mass gatherings.
The veteran politician and lawmaker was tested positive for the Covid-19 on Oct 1.
Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi said she has lost an "irreplaceable comrade, a faithful colleague and a friend" in Patel's demise.
"I have lost a colleague, whose entire life was dedicated to the Congress party," Gandhi in a condolence message said.
Patel was a Gandhi family loyalist and one of the most powerful leaders in the Congress party.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the seasoned politician, saying "his role in strengthening the Congress Party would always be remembered".
Soon after the announcement of Patel's death, messages of condolences and tributes started pouring in.
In the recent past, several key political figures from around the country, including several ministers tested positive for Covid-19.
In September India's federal junior railways minister Suresh Angadi died due to disease.
On Wednesday morning the federal health ministry said the number of Covid-19 cases in the country has reached 9,222,216 and the death toll has risen to 134,699.
Globally, India is the second worst-hit country by the pandemic.
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