New Delhi:
Ghazal legend Mehdi Hassan hasbeen admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospitalin Karachi after he had trouble in breathing, his son ArifHassan said today.
The 84-year-old singer, the voice behind evergreenghazals like Ab ke bichade and Patta patta boota boota, hasalso stopped speaking.
Hassan, who has been suffering from lung problems for thepast twelve years, was last night rushed to Karachi's AghaKhan hospital's ICU section. Doctors said Hassan is sufferingfrom chest and urine infection.
"He had trouble in breathing last night. We immediatelyrushed him to the hospital. He is in ICU but there is nopositive response from the doctors about his condition," Ariftold PTI from Karachi.
"We have been feeding him through tube for the past twoyears and for the past one month, he has even lost his voice,which mesmerized millions of his fans," he added.
Arif said Hassan always wanted to visit India fortreatment.
"He wanted to visit India, his birth country, and we weresupposed to be there last year but his condition neverimproved. Now the doctors have strictly said no to anyjourney," he said.
Singers Hariharan and Hansraj Hans besides Gulzar haveinquired about Hassan's health over phone, Arif said.
Facing a cash crunch for his treatment, the family of thelegendary singer has appealed to the Pakistan government forsome help.
"We have to pay Rs 45 lakh to the hospital. Governmenthas publicly promised to bear all the expenses of histreatment and we are relying on them. I am hopeful that peoplewill come forward to help," Arif said.
Hassan was born into a family of traditional musicians atLuna village in India's Rajasthan state in 1927. His familymigrated to Pakistan during Partition.
Hassan, who has a huge following in the subcontinent, cutback on his performances in the late 80s due to illness.
He wanted to visit India in 2010 for treatment and wishedto meet Lata Mangeshkar, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. Thevisit could not take place and his earlier planned visit in2008 was also cancelled in wake of Mumbai terror attack.The singer last performed in India in 2000.
The 84-year-old singer, the voice behind evergreenghazals like Ab ke bichade and Patta patta boota boota, hasalso stopped speaking.
Hassan, who has been suffering from lung problems for thepast twelve years, was last night rushed to Karachi's AghaKhan hospital's ICU section. Doctors said Hassan is sufferingfrom chest and urine infection.
"He had trouble in breathing last night. We immediatelyrushed him to the hospital. He is in ICU but there is nopositive response from the doctors about his condition," Ariftold PTI from Karachi.
"We have been feeding him through tube for the past twoyears and for the past one month, he has even lost his voice,which mesmerized millions of his fans," he added.
Arif said Hassan always wanted to visit India fortreatment.
"He wanted to visit India, his birth country, and we weresupposed to be there last year but his condition neverimproved. Now the doctors have strictly said no to anyjourney," he said.
Singers Hariharan and Hansraj Hans besides Gulzar haveinquired about Hassan's health over phone, Arif said.
Facing a cash crunch for his treatment, the family of thelegendary singer has appealed to the Pakistan government forsome help.
"We have to pay Rs 45 lakh to the hospital. Governmenthas publicly promised to bear all the expenses of histreatment and we are relying on them. I am hopeful that peoplewill come forward to help," Arif said.
Hassan was born into a family of traditional musicians atLuna village in India's Rajasthan state in 1927. His familymigrated to Pakistan during Partition.
Hassan, who has a huge following in the subcontinent, cutback on his performances in the late 80s due to illness.
He wanted to visit India in 2010 for treatment and wishedto meet Lata Mangeshkar, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. Thevisit could not take place and his earlier planned visit in2008 was also cancelled in wake of Mumbai terror attack.The singer last performed in India in 2000.
