Renowned Urdu poet Munawwar Rana died due to a cardiac arrest at the PGI Hospital in Lucknow on Sunday. He was 71.

The poet had been battling with prolonged illness for the past several months and was undergoing treatment at the PGI Hospital. Earlier, he was suffering from kidney and heart-related ailments.

Celebrated poet Munawwar Rana passed suddenly on Sunday, January 14, from cardiac arrest in a Lucknow hospital. His age was seventy-one. "Due to illness, he spent 14 to 15 days in the hospital. He was admitted to Medanta in Lucknow at first, and then to SGPGI where he breathed his last around 11 pm today."

"He was hospitalised for 14 to 15 days due to illness. He was first admitted to Medanta in Lucknow and then to SGPGI where he breathed his last around 11 pm today," Rana's son Tabrez was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Rana had reportedly been suffering from throat cancer for several years.

Born on 26 November, 1952, he was renowned for his contributions to Urdu poetry, particularly ghazals. His most popular poem is considered to be 'Maa', which speaks of a mother's virtues.