Sharda Sinha to be crematedwith full state honours today

Patna: Popular folk singer Sharda Sinha, who breathed her last at AIIMS, Delhi on Tuesday, will be cremated with full state honours on Thursday, an official said here. Her mortal remains reached Patna early Wednesday morning and have been kept at her Rajendra Nagar residence, where her fans and well-wishers made a beeline to pay their last respect to the departed singer. "The cremation of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient, late Sharda Sinha, will be performed with state honours," CM Nitish Kumar announced on Wednesday as her body reached Patna. He also directed the Patna district magistrate, Chandrashekhar Singh, to make all necessary arrangements for her last rites. Later in the day, the CM visited the residence of the late singer and offered floral tributes to the departed soul. Accompanied by water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Kumar Jha, the CM also consoled the grieving family members. Union minister and BJP national president JP Nadda is also expected to visit Sinha's house on Thursday evening, party sources said.Meanwhile, condolence messages poured in from various political quarters. Describing Sinha's demise as a big loss for the state, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said she was a great music artist. "Her voice created a different ambience during the festival. I pray to sun God to grant peace to the departed soul," Prasad said. He mentioned that her Chhath songs are played in every house not only in Bihar but in the entire Purvanchal. "Sharda Sinha's demise is a big loss for Bihar," he said.Describing her demise as a big loss for folk music, BJP's deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said Sharda ji gave a new identity to the folk songs of Bihar for three to four decades. He thanked the CM for ordering her last rites to be performed with state honours and said that BJP national president JP Nadda will also meet her family to convey his condolences. "There is an atmosphere of sadness among music lovers due to the demise of Sharda Sinha," he said.In his condolence message, state CPI-ML secretary Kunal said Sinha's demise is an irreparable loss to the field of folk singing and music. Poll strategist and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor also mourned the death of Sharda Sinha.
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