Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan's mother passes away at age 89; her body donated for scientific research
Guwahati: Snehlata Goel, the mother of Union health and science minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, passed away on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 89.
Harsh Vardhan rushed her to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after she collapsed suddenly, but she could not be revived. She reportedly died at 8.50 am.
"Heartbroken to inform that my dearest person on earth, my Mother, has left for heavenly abode. She was 89 & suffered a cardiac arrest today morning. A towering personality, my guide & philosopher, she has left a void in my life that none can fill. May her pious soul find peace," tweeted the minister in the morning, with a photograph of him with his mother.
Vardhan, who is an ENT doctor by training, reportedly donated his mother's eyes at the Organ Retrieval and Banking Organisation (ORBO) at AIIMS for people with corneal blindness to regain their vision. This was confirmed by Dr. Aarti Vij, chief of ORBO, who said that the minister signed the consent form himself.
Vardhan donated his mother's body to Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) for the advancement of science to help medical students and researchers learn about human anatomy.
The death of the minister's mother has been condoled by several leading politicians in the country.
"My sincere condolences to Dr. Harsh Vardhan ji, with whom I share a long-time relationship as my senior, both in medical profession as well as in public life. Mother's void can never be filled," DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh wrote in a tweet:
Condolences also came from Congress MP Digvijay Singh, who wrote, "Very sorry to hear about the sad demise of Harsh Vardhan ji's Mother. Our condolences to Harsh Vardhan ji and his family. May her Soul rest in Peace."