Oriya devotional singer dead

BHUBANESWAR - Oriya singer Bhikari Bal, who has sung hundreds of devotional songs, died at a government hospital in Orissa after a prolonged illness. He was 82, family sources said Wednesday.

Bal died late Tuesday at Sriram Chandra Bhanja medical college hospital at Cuttack, some 26 km from here, where he was undergoing treatments since over a week after developing several old age-related complications.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. His last rites will be performed Wednesday at the temple town of Puri, some 56 km from here.

Millions of people listen to the recorded devotional songs sung by him to start their day. They are widely played in religious places, including Puri town - the abode of Lord Jagannath.

Bal had also lent his voice as playback singer to dozens of Oriya films.