Former Foreign Secretary and ex-UP Governor Romesh Bhandari passed away on Sunday in a Gurgaon hospital. He was 85.
He was admitted to the hospital three weeks ago after suffering from pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, former Cabinet minister Natwar Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Punj and former SP leader Amar Singh were present during the cremation.
Condoling his death, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit described him as an “able administrator”. Bhandari has earlier also served as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, Goa, and Delhi.
An IFS officer, Bhandari went on to become the Foreign Secretary between 1985-86. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had appointed him as the chairman of the Congress party foreign cell after his retirement.