Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi dead

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Legendary vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi who passed away at a Pune hospital on Monday

Eminent Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi died of old age-related ailments on Monday morning at a hospital here, his doctor said. He was 88.

A Bharat Ratna awardee, Joshi died at Pune's Sahyadri Hospital at 8.05 a.m, his doctor Atul Joshi said.

Joshi, who would have turned a year older on February 4, was rushed to the Sahyadri Hospital Dec 31. He was suffering from old age-related ailments, including kidney problems, and had been admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit.

The 88-year old Hindustani classical exponent was on ventilator and underwent periodic dialysis during the past 25 days.

"However, since Saturday evening, his condition deteriorated and he started sinking despite all our efforts. He breathed his last at 8.05 a.m.," Atul Joshi told IANS.

Close family members and relatives were present at his bedside when Pandit Joshi breathed his last.

Pandit Joshi was conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, in 2008.

A practitioner of the Kirana gharana, Joshi was known for his mellifluous 'khayals' as well as for his popular renditions of devotional 'abhangs' and 'bhajans'.