Uttar Pradesh minister Kamal Rani Varun, who had earlier tested positive for the novel coronavirus, died due to the infection in Lucknow this morning. She was 62.
The minister died at 9:30 AM at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, the government said in a statement. Kamal Rani Varun, who served as Minister of Technical Education, is the first minister in Uttar Pradesh to die after contracting coronavirus.
The 62-year-old politician was admitted to hospital on July 18 after she tested positive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the UP minister’s death saying she had dedicated her life to social service and played an important role in strengthening the BJP in the state.
“Very sad with the death of Uttar Pradesh government minister Kamal Rani Varun. Her whole life was dedicated to social service. She played an important in strengthening the BJP in the state. My condolences with her family and supporters in this hour of grief,” PM Modi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Yogi Adityanath said, “Kamal Rani Varun died on Sunday at around 9.30 am. She was an experienced and capable leader. She discharged her responsibilities with competence. She was a dedicated public representative, who was always working for the welfare of deprived and oppressed sections of the society.”
Yogi Adityanath has cancelled his visit to Ayodhya scheduled for the day, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said on Sunday.
Kamal Rani was an MLA from Ghatampur in Kanpur. In the past, she was also a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha twice.