Activist, singer who ignited Telangana spirit dies at 39

HYDERABAD: A pall of gloom descended on Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) following the sudden demise of 39-year-old Telangana movement singer and TS Warehousing Corporation chairman V. Sai Chand, who succumbed to a heart stroke in the wee hours of Thursday.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, ministers K.T. Rama Rao, T. Harish Rao and other BRS leaders visited Sai Chand's residence in Gurramguda on the city outskirts, consoled his family members and paid tributes to the departed soul.

All party and government programmes of BRS used to begin with Sai Chand's performance on stage, who kept the public engaged for hours together with his songs hailing the achievements of Chandrashekar Rao and the BRS government while lashing out at the opposition parties. He actively took part in the second phase of the Telangana statehood agitation led by Chandrashekar Rao and ignited the Telangana spirit among the people through his song and dance performances.

Sai Chand along with his family members went to their farmhouse in Karukonda, Nagarkurnool district on Wednesday evening. He complained of uneasiness at around midnight and was immediately shifted to a private hospital at Nagarkurnool. As his condition deteriorated, his family members shifted him to a private hospital in Gachibowli where the doctors declared him dead. He is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.

The CM in a condolence message said, "Telangana society lost a great singer and artiste. He ignited the Telangana spirit during the movement and thereafter, spread the message of development through his songs. It is unfortunate that we lost him, especially when he is rising to new heights."

Rama Rao said the death of Sai Chand, who rendered immeasurable services to the Telangana society, especially the BRS through his voice since the Telangana agitation period, was a great loss. He said Sai Chand’s name will be etched in the annals of history of Telangana movement as well as in the cultural field.

BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar expressed deep condolences at the passing of Sai Chand. In a message, Sanjay hoped that the grieving family finds strength during this tough time, and that the departed leader's soul rests in peace.