New Delhi: Veteran journalist Vinod Dua on Saturday breathed his last at the age of 67. The news was confirmed by his daughter actor-comedienne Mallika Dua.
This comes as his health was informed to have been rapidly deteriorating since April this year. As per an official statement, Vinod Dua breathed his last at 5 pm at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital where he was battling chronic liver disease.
“He was admitted in the intensive care unit in a critical condition, and was monitored by a team of senior doctors. In this tragic time, our prayers are with his family and dear ones,” the hospital statement read, as quoted by news agency PTI.
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“Our irreverent, fearless and extraordinary father, Vinod Dua has passed away. He lived an inimitable life, rising from the refugee colonies of Delhi to the peak of journalistic excellence for over 42 years, always, always speaking truth to power. He is now with our mom, his beloved wife Chinna in heaven where they will continue to sing, cook, travel, and drive each other up the wall”: Mallika Dua wrote in an Instagram story.
Previously, she had informed that he was “beyond critical in the ICU”.
The veteran journalist had made his first television appearance in Yuva Manch, in November 1974, a Hindi-language youth program that aired on Doordarshan (formerly known as Delhi television).
The Delhi University alumnus gained recognition with election analysis programs as he began co-anchoring such shows on Doordarshan in 1984.
Besides political news, Vinod Dua became a household name hosting ‘Zaika India Ka’ on NDTV where he covered the diversity in terms of local food and cuisine across India.
In his illustrious career, Vinod Dua became the first electronic media journalist to be honoured with the esteemed Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 1996.
He was also awarded the Padma Shri for Journalism in 2008.
In June this year, Vinod Dua had lost his wife, Radiologist Padmavati Dua to a prolonged battle with COVID. She was 61. The couple was admitted to a Gurgaon hospital when the second COVID wave was at its peak
In her prior statement on Instagram, Mallika Dua mentioned how was “unable to come to terms with losing the light of his life”. As per PTI, Vinod Dua’s health had suffered ever since he contracted COVID and he had been in and out of hospitals.
As per the details shared, Vinod Dua’s mortal remains will be cremated at Lodhi crematorium on Sunday at 12 noon.