Missionaries of Charity head Sister Nirmala passes away at 81

New Delhi: Sister Nirmala Joshi, who succeeded Mother Teresa as the head of the Missionaries of Charity founded by the Nobel laureate, died here this morning. She was 81.

A Missionaries of Charity official said Sister Nirmala was not keeping well for the past few days and her health was gradually deteriorating. Her body would be brought to Mother House tomorrow morning and the funeral will be held at 4 pm.

"Any one who wants to pay respect can come to Mother House tomorrow", the official said.

On March 13, 1997, six months before Mother Teresa's death, Sister Nirmala was selected the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity.

Born to a Brahmin soldier in Ranchi hailing from Nepal, Sister Nirmala had joined the Order at the age of 17.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed grief at the passing away of Sister Nirmala who headed Missionaries of Charity after Mother Teresa and said that Kolkata will miss her.

"Saddened at the passing of Sister Nirmala who headed Missionaries of Charity after Mother Teresa. Kolkata and the world will miss her," she tweeted.

Saddened at the passing of Sister Nirmala who headed Missionaries of Charity after Mother Teresa. Kolkata and the world will miss her

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 23, 2015

Kolkata: WB CM Mamata Banerjee pays tribute to Sister Nirmala. pic.twitter.com/8vBuv4bv7m

— ANI (@ANI_news) June 23, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too expressed his condolences on Twitter and said that Sister Nirmala's life was devoted to service, caring for the poor and underprivileged.

My deepest condolences to the Missionaries of Charity family on the passing away of Sister Nirmala.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 23, 2015

Sister Nirmala's life was devoted to service, caring for the poor & underprivileged. Saddened by her demise. May her soul rest in peace.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 23, 2015

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi too offered his condolences on Twitter.

Extremely saddened at the passing away of Sister Nirmala.She carried forward Mother Teresa's work with quiet dedication &dignity(1/2)

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 23, 2015

She will be missed by the countless whose lives she touched:Rahul Gandhi (2/2)

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 23, 2015