Former Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi has passed away on Monday at the age of 84 due to post-COVID complications. He was receiving treatment at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital for several weeks. He was spelled to be in a very critical state and his health had deteriorated further amid the efforts to save him. 

According to reports, his health had worsened on Monday and he was getting treated on ventilation following a multi-organ failure, and a team of doctors had been treating him. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was at the hospital along with Gogoi's son Gaurav. The Health Minister had confirmed to PTI had the former Chief Minister had breathed his last at 5.34 pm on Monday. Sarma further stated that Gogoi's brain and heart were responsive while the rest of the organs had failed to respond. 

Tarun Gogoi had tested positive for COVID-19 on August 25 and he was admitted to Gauhati Medical College the next day and he was hospitalized for two months and following his recovery from the pandemic, the former Chief Minister was discharged from the hospital on October 25. 

However, a week after getting recovered and discharged, Gogoi had developed post-COVID complications and he was admitted to Gauhati Medical College Hospital on November 2. He was critical and put under ventilation support. The national leaders and his well-wishers had been expressing their wishes to him for his speedy recovery. However, there was a huge setback on his health on Saturday as his health had got deteriorated. 

He was later spelled to be in a very critical state and his health had further deteriorated on Monday and he had breathed his last on the evening hours of Monday. Tarun Gogoi was three-time Chief Minister of Assam and he was one of the senior Congress leaders in the country. Before getting tested positive for COVID-19, Gogoi had played a significant role in building 'Grand Alliance', which was the initiative of the Congress party to unite all the opposition parties against BJP. 

Gogoi was the longest-serving Chief Minister of Assam and Assam Congress Chief Ripun Bora said that Gogoi's mortal remains will be cremated on Thursday in Guwahati. Bora, addressing the reporters, said that the body will be taken to Gogoi's official residence at Dispur from the hospital on Tuesday morning. The doctors will complete the necessary medical formalities in the night to prepare the body for keeping it safe for three days, till the cremation. 

From his residence, Gogoi's body will be taken to the state secretariat and it will also be kept at the Congress headquarters of the state. Bora stated that the government will take Gogoi's mortal remains to Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra complex in Guwahati on Tuesday evening and will be kept for the whole day to the public to pay homage, as per the request from Gogoi's family. 

On November 26, Gogoi's final journey will begin, and will be cremated in Guwahati. As per Gogoi's last wish, the body will be taken to a temple, mosque, and church before his last rites. To pay respect to him, the Assam government has announced a three-day state mourning. Both the Congress and BJP had canceled all the party functions for the next three days as a mark of respect. Gogoi had served as the MLA since 2001, elected for Lok Sabha six times, and he also had served as Union Minister two times.

National leaders have been paying their tributes for the deceased. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and said, "Shri Tarun Gogoi Ji was a popular leader and a veteran administrator, who had years of political experience in Assam as well as the Centre. Anguished by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti." 

President Ram Nath Kovind said, "Extremely sad to know of the demise of Shri Tarun Gogoi, former Chief Minister of Assam. The country has lost a veteran leader with rich political and administrative experience. His long tenure in office was a period of epochal change in Assam". "He will always be remembered for the development of Assam and especially towards his efforts to improve law and order and fighting insurgency in the state. His passing away marks the end of an era. In this hour of grief, condolences to his family, friends, and supporters", the President added. 

In his tribute note, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "Shri Tarun Gogoi was a true Congress leader. He devoted his life to bringing all the people and communities of Assam together. For me, he was a great and wise teacher. I loved and respected him deeply. I will miss him. My love and condolences to Gaurav & the family."

Shri Tarun Gogoi Ji was a popular leader and a veteran administrator, who had years of political experience in Assam as well as the Centre. Anguished by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family and supporters in this hour of sadness. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/H6F6RGYyT4

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2020

He will always be remembered for the development of Assam and especially towards his efforts to improve law and order and fighting insurgency in the state. His passing away marks the end of an era. In this hour of grief, condolences to his family, friends and supporters.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 23, 2020

Shri Tarun Gogoi was a true Congress leader. He devoted his life to bringing all the people and communities of Assam together.

For me, he was a great and wise teacher. I loved and respected him deeply.

I will miss him. My love and condolences to Gaurav & the family. pic.twitter.com/jTMfSyAJ6J

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 23, 2020