Former Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh was declared dead at Delhi's AIIMS hospital at 9:51 PM last night. The 92-year-old Dr Singh was being treated for age-related illnesses at his residence in Delhi. On Thursday evening, he suddenly fell unconscious, after which he was taken to AIIMS hospital around 8 PM. Despite doctors' efforts to revive the former Prime Minister, all attempts failed and he was declared dead at 9:51 PM.

Personalities from across the country have expressed grief over the former Prime Minister's death and remembered his contributions to the nation.

Asim Arun, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare, Scheduled Castes and Tribal Welfare in the Uttar Pradesh government, who served as the former Prime Minister's bodyguard for three years from 2004, shared an anecdote about Manmohan Singh's simplicity in a social media post.

Asim Arun's post:

"I served as his bodyguard for about three years from 2004. In SPG, the innermost security circle for the PM is the Close Protection Team, which I had the opportunity to lead. The AIG CPT is someone who can never be far from the PM. If only one bodyguard can remain, it would be this person. As such, my responsibility was to stay with him like his shadow.

Dr Sahab had only one car of his own - a Maruti 800, which would be parked behind the gleaming black BMW at the PM House. Manmohan Singh ji would often tell me, 'Asim, I don't like traveling in this car, that one (the Maruti) is my vehicle.' I would explain, 'Sir, this car isn't for your luxury, it has security features which is why SPG has chosen it.' But whenever the motorcade would pass in front of the Maruti, he would always look at it longingly. As if reaffirming to himself that 'I am a middle-class person and it's my job to care for the common man.' The car worth crores belongs to the PM's office, but my car is this Maruti."

Asim Arun, a former IPS officer, took voluntary retirement in January 2022 to join politics. He successfully contested the 2022 UP Assembly election as a BJP candidate from the Kannauj seat.

Shortly after the news about the demise of former PM emerged, the Union government declared a seven-day national mourning for Manmohan Singh. According to reports, the Union cabinet will meet at 11 am Friday to pay tributes to the veteran Congress leader. Singh's last rites will be conducted with full state honours.