Shimla: Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who was ailing for the last three months, passed away at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital (IGMCH) at Shimla early this morning. He was 87.

A press release issued by IGMCH Shimla Senior Medical Superintendent Dr. Janak Raj said that Mr. Singh died at 03.40 hrs in the hospital.

Singh was under observation of the Cardiology Unit of the Hospital and kept on a ventilator for the last three days.

In last night press bulletin, IGMCH said that his condition did not improve and continued taking life support in the hospital.

State Police has deployed heavy security outside IGMCH, his residence at Holilodge and his paternal house at Rampur to manage the crowd, Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Mohit Chawla said.

The veteran Congress leader remained Chief Minister of the State for six times — from April 8, 1983 to March 5, 1990, December 3, 1993 to March 23, 1998, March 6, 2003 to December 29, 2007 and for the sixth time from December 25, 2012 to December 26, 2017. 

He also remained the leader of the Opposition from March 1998 to March 2003.

Virbhadra Singh’s wife Pratibha Singh and the couple’s son Vikramaditya Singh are also politicians. Pratibha is a former MP, while Vikramaditya is an MLA from Shimla rural.