Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday condoled the demise of Minister of Forests Umesh Katti who passed away late Tuesday evening and said that his death is a huge loss for the state.
Minister Umesh Katti passed away on late Tuesday evening after he suffered a heart attack. According to sources, the minister, 61, felt chest pain at his Dollars Colony home and collapsed, following which he was shifted to Ramaiah hospital, where he breathed his last.
Speaking to ANI, Bommai called the late minister a “brother” and said that he did a lot of work for the state.
“I’ve lost a very close friend of mine. he was a brother to me. He had some heart issues but we never thought he’ll pass away so soon. He has done a lot of work for the state. He handled several portfolios efficiently. It is a huge loss for the state. He has left a huge vacuum which is very difficult to fill up,” Bommai said while speaking to ANI.
The Chief Minister informed that the mortal remains of the deceased minister would be shifted by air ambulance and he will be accorded state honours.
“His (Umesh Katti) body will be shifted by air ambulance. All procedures will be done after public viewing till 2 pm at Sankeshwara. The last rites will be performed with state honours at Bagewadi Belagavi. Holiday announced in schools and colleges today in Belagavi,” he told the media.
PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his condolences on the demise Karnataka Minister of Forests Umesh Katti.
Katti passed away late Tuesday evening after he suffered a heart attack. “Shri Umesh Katti Ji was an experienced leader who made rich contributions to Karnataka’s development. Pained by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this tragic hour. Om Shanti,” PM Modi tweeted.