Ustad Rashid Khan dies battling cancer, to be laid to rest with state honours

Ustad Rashid Khan died at the age of 55 after battling with prolonged cancer. He was on ventilator from December last year. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee informed that he will be honored with state honors and gun salute on Wednesday.

Kolkata (West Bengal):Music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan, who was undergoing treatment at a Kolkata-based hospital for prostate cancer, died at a city hospital this afternoon, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said. He was 55. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. The classical singer, who belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, is the great-grandson of gharana founder Inayat Hussain Khan.

"We tried our best but failed. He passed away at around 3:45 PM," an official of the private hospital where Khan was admitted said. The chief minister who visited the hospital said, "This is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can't believe that Rashid Khan is no more.

"I heard about his death. This is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can't believe that Rashid Khan is no more," Banerjee said at the hospital while standing beside his family members. The chief minister said Khan will be given a gun salute and state honours before his last rites are performed on Wednesday.

"His body will be kept at a mortuary today. It will be taken to Rabindra Sadan on Wednesday where his admirers can pay him last respects," she said. The musician was on ventilation. His health condition deteriorated following a cerebral attack last month. His musical career started when he was 11-year-old.

The singer of the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, had undergone treatment at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. However, at a later stage, he was preferred to continue with his treatment in Kolkata only. Khan's fusion and film numbers have also received accolades.

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