Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde passed away on Tuesday after he met with an accident in Delhi's Moti Bagh area.
Munde was critically injured when his convoy met with a road accident while he was going to Indira Gandhi International Airport. Munde was on his way to catch a flight for Mumbai, where he was supposed to attend a victory rally in Beed.
According to reports, the minister was travelling in a SX4 vehicle, when it was hit by an Indica at Aurobindo Chowk area. Police have taken the driver of the Indica car into custody.
Munde suffered multiple injuries and also lost a lot of blood in the accident. The 63-year-old BJP leader was initially rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, but later was shifted to AIIMS trauma centre where he was undergoing treatment. Apparently, Munde suffered a cardiac arrest while he was being treated. Doctors tried to revive him, but he died at 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has confirmed the news to CNN-IBN. Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari also confirmed the news to ANI.
Munde ji met with an accident today, he was injured, doctors tried their best to save him but he could not survive-Nitin Gadkari
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 3, 2014
Doctors tried to revive him (Gopinath Munde) but at 8AM doctors declared that he passed away:Nitin Gadkari — ANI (@ANI_news) June 3, 2014
This is a huge setback for us, and for Maharashtra-Nitin Gadkari on Gopinath Munde's death pic.twitter.com/tPafntGZvA
— ANI (@ANI_news) June 3, 2014
Senior BJP leaders, cabinet ministers have rushed to the hospital. His family members have also left for Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of the union minister. "Extremely saddened & shocked by demise of my friend & colleague Gopinath Munde ji. His demise is a major loss for the Nation & the Govt," Modi tweeted.
"Gopinath Munde ji was a true mass leader. Hailing from backward sections of society, he rose to great heights & tirelessly served people. My tributes to a dynamic leader whose premature demise leaves a void hard to fill. Condolences to Munde ji's family. We stand by them in this hour of grief," he said.
Home Minsiter Rajnath Singh has also expressed grief over the demise of Munde. "Deeply shocked to know of Shri Gopinath Munde's demise. He was a grassroots leader and known for his concern for poor people and farmers. Mundeji's death is an irreparable loss to the BJP and he has left a big void in Mahrashtra's political and social life," Singh tweeted.
