Jagarnath Mahto, Jharkhand's Education Minister, Dies; Hemant Soren Condoles Death

New Delhi: Jharkhand Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto died at a hospital in Chennai on Thursday, an official said. Mahto, 57, was airlifted to Chennai last month due to health complications following his lung transplant in November 2020, which he underwent after suffering from Covid-19.

"Mahto breathed his last today," Dr Apar Jindal of MGM Healthcare told the news agency PTI.

The four-time Jharkhand Mukti Morch (JMM) MLA from Dumri in Giridih district, is survived by a son and four daughters.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren condoled the demise of Mahto and called it an 'irreparable damage'.

"Our Tiger Jagarnath Da is no more! Today Jharkhand has lost one of its great agitators, combative, hardworking and popular leaders," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

"May God give peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this difficult hour of grief," Soren added.

अपूरणीय क्षति!
हमारे टाइगर जगरनाथ दा नहीं रहे!
आज झारखण्ड ने अपना एक महान आंदोलनकारी, जुझारू, कर्मठ और जनप्रिय नेता खो दिया। चेन्नई में इलाज के दौरान आदरणीय जगरनाथ महतो जी का निधन हो गया।
परमात्मा दिवंगत आत्मा को शांति प्रदान कर शोकाकुल परिवार को दुःख की यह विकट घड़ी सहन करने की… — Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) April 6, 2023

The Jharkhand government has declared mourning for two days from April 6 in honour of Mahto, during which no official ceremony would be held.

According to a state government notification, the cabinet meeting scheduled this evening was also cancelled.