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DARJEELING: Prashant Tamang (43), a singer from Darjeeling, died of cardiac arrest at his Delhi home on Sunday. Prashant felt unwell around 6am. His family took him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead. He had been living in Delhi’s Janakpuri with his wife Geeta Thapa and their three-year-old daughter, Ariah Tamang. Following his father’s death in an accident, Prashant took his place in Kolkata police as a constable. Due to his musical skills, he joined the orchestra of the city police. “He had gone to Dubai for a show and returned on Dec 27. He travelled to Arunachal Pradesh on Jan 7 for another show and was back in Delhi the next day. We spoke over a video call that day. He sent me videos of his show and appeared to be in good health,” said sister Anupama Gurung. Anupama said the family would bring the body back to Darjeeling for last rites. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and BJP’s Darjeeling MP Raju Bista mourned the death. Prashant’s victory in a reality show turned him into a powerful symbol of cultural pride in the hills, reshaping the socio-political landscape of Darjeeling and contributing to the rise of Bimal Gurung as a prominent political figure. Anit Thapa, chief executive of GTA, expressed condolences.
