The scion of the Mysore royal family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar (60), died of cardiac arrest at a private hospital here on Tuesday. Wadiyar was stated to have been restless around noon at his residence and he was rushed to hospital. “We tried to resuscitate him, but in vain. The death was confirmed around 2.30 p.m.,” said Vikram Hospital authorities, where he was admitted.
The former Member of Parliament, who had represented Mysore four times in the Lok Sabha from 1984, was recently elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). It was stated that he was fine and had gone about his morning routine as usual. “We were informed by his family that he was feeling uneasy and wanted to rest. When they sensed all was not well with him, they rushed him to hospital. He must have suffered the heart attack at that point of time,” a doctor who attended on him said.
Mr. Wadiyar, a diabetic, had undergone a liposuction procedure in another private hospital some years ago. Subsequently, he had developed septicaemia and renal problems following complications of the liposuction procedure. S.B. Vikram, managing director of Vikram Hospital, said he had been treated last month for septicaemia and had gone home fit and fine.
Born in 1953, Mr. Wadiyar was the only son of Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last of the Maharajas of Mysore. Married to Pramoda Devi of the erstwhile princely State of Mysore, the couple were childless. He had five sisters; one of them, Gayathri, died young. Four other sisters were at the hospital along with several relatives of the Wadiyar family. In consultation with the family, the State government made arrangements to shift the body from Bangalore to Mysore.
Minister for Home K.J. George told presspersons the last rites would be conducted with full State honours. Sources said Wadiyar’s elder sister’s son, Kantaraj Urs, is likely to perform the last rites on Wednesday. The Mysore Deputy Commissioner said the funeral will be held at “Madhu Vana”.
