Lucknow, Aug 2 (PTI) UP's Cabinet minister for Technical Education Kamal Rani Varun succumbed to COVID-19 on Sunday at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences here.

Kamal Rani is the first minister in Uttar Pradesh to die after contracting coronavirus. She was 62.

Also Read | Kamal Rani Varun, Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh, Dies of COVID-19 in Lucknow.

On July 18, the minister tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital here. She was later shifted to the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences.

Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the minister's death.

Also Read | Kamal Rani Varun, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister, Dies of COVID-19 in Lucknow: Live News Breaking And Coronavirus Updates on August 2, 2020.

In a condolence message issued here on Sunday, Adityanath said, "Kamal Rani Varun died on Sunday at around 9.30 am. She was an experienced and capable leader. She discharged her responsibilities with competence. She was a dedicated public representative, who was always working for the welfare of deprived and oppressed sections of the society."

Currently, Kamal Rani was MLA from Ghatampur in Kanpur. In the past, she was also a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha twice.  

Meanwhile, chief minister Adityanath has cancelled his visit to Ayodhya scheduled for the day, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said on Sunday.

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