NEW DELHI, AUG 31-Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee died Monday at the age of 84, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said.

Earlier it was reported that Mukherjee, who served as President of India from 2012 to 2017, is in a coma and is connected to a ventilator after surgery to remove a blood clot in the brain. He was also diagnosed with a coronavirus.

Former US presidential candidate dies of COVID-19."

It is sad to hear that former President Sri Pranab Mukherjee is no more. His demise is the end of an era. The people mourn the loss of one of their most worthy sons. Condolences to his family, friends, and all citizens," Kovind wrote on Twitter.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences.

"India mourns the passing of Pranab Mukherjee. He left an indelible mark on the development of our nation. An excellent scientist, an outstanding statesman, he was admired by representatives of the entire political spectrum and all walks of society. As President of India, Pranab Mukherjee made the presidential palace even more accessible to the simple citizens. He made the presidential home a center for learning, innovation, culture, science, and literature. I will never forget his wise advice on key policy issues, "he wrote.

The President of India is the head of state and supreme commander of the country's armed forces. Formally, the Indian constitution allows for a significant role for the president in governing the country. Still, in reality, he performs mainly representative functions, while the head of government leads the nation.

India ranks third in the world in the number of coronavirus cases after the United States and Brazil. A total of 3.62 million cases of the disease were detected in the country. More than 781 thousand people are treated in hospitals or 21.59% of the number of cases. During the day, this number has grown by more than 16 thousand.

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