Bengaluru, Feb 6: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and former chief ministers of the state on Sunday joined millions of others to condole the demise of iconic playback singer and Bharat Ratna recipient Lata Mangeshkar.

In his message, Gehlot said he is saddened by the news about the demise of 'Swara Kokila' Lata Mangeshkar and offered his tribute to her. "May God bestow peace to his soul and strength to the bereaved family members and his numerous fans to bear this loss," the Karnataka governor said.

Bommai too mourned the death saying the 'Cuckoo of India has stopped singing today'. "It is a saddest moment for all of us that the Cuckoo of India has stopped singing today. The entire nation is mourning. We all grew up listening to her songs," the Karnataka Chief Minister told reporters here.

Calling Mangeshkar 'Gaana Saraswati', who passed away on Sunday morning due to COVID-19 related complications in Mumbai at the age of 92, Bommai said the glowing star of Indian music, who had enriched the music world with her scintillating voice was not restricted to just film music but immortalised many Bhajans and patriotic songs.

"Aye Mere Vatan Ke Logon will remain eternal like the Himalayas. The song brings tears to us even today and the patriotic sentiments know no bounds. So inspiring was her voice and her songs," Bommai recalled.

The Chief Minister said the doyen of Indian music had sung some Kannada songs which were popular. He added that so long as there is music on the earth, Lata Mangeshkar will rule the hearts of music lovers and her name will remain alive.

In his tweet, former PM Deve Gowda said: "Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of #LataMangeshkar. She had in her voice the soul of this nation. My deepest condolences. Her music will remain with us forever. RIP."

Union ministers from Karnataka and ministers in the state government and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, H D Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah too mourned the death of Lata Mangeshkar.

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Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.

Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.

Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.

An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.

The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.

A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.

Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."

"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.

"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.

A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.