Government announces 7-day state mourning upon ex-President Pranab Mukherjee's death

The government said in a statement, "As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, seven days State Mourning will be observed throughout India from 31.08.2020 to 06.09.2020, both days inclusive."

The statement added, "During the period of State Mourning the National Flag will fly at half-mast on all buildings throughout India, where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment."

Mukherjee was admitted to the hospital on August 10 for the removal of a clot in his brain the same day.

At the hospital, he was tested positive for COVID-19, which he had revealed in a tweet himself.


He later developed a lung infection and renal dysfunction. The hospital said that his "renal parameters were slightly deranged."

He had been on ventilator support.

The news of Mukherjee's passing was shared by his son, Abhijit, via social media.

He wrote, "My father Pranab Mukherjee has just passed away in spite of the best efforts of doctors of RR Hospital, and the prayers, duas, and prarthanas from people throughout India!"

Earlier in the day, Abhijit had tweeted asking people to pray for his father's recovery.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said of Mukherjee, "He has left an indelible mark on the development trajectory of our nation. A scholar par excellence, a towering statesman, he was admired across the political spectrum and by all sections of society."

President Ram Nath Kovind also tweeted, "Sad to hear that former President Pranab Mukherjee is no more. His demise is passing of an era."

Mukherjee was born in 1935 in Mirati, a village in Bengal Presidency in British India.

His political career started in 1969 when he managed the campaign of VK Krishna Menon in the Midnapore by-election.

Mukherjee went on to become the 13th President of India, serving from 2012 to 2017. He was also the recipient of India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.