Famous Pakhawaj player dies on stage

Abhishek Awasthi.

Last rites of UP Pakhawaj player conducted who died of cardiac arrest on the stage During the Santakda festival in Lucknow.

Lucknow: On Monday night, a Pakhawaj performer performing in front of a large crowd died from a major heart attack.Age 67, a Pakhawaj musician of the Mathura Gharana, died on stage from cardiac arrest during the Santakda festival while performing at the Taal Vadya Kachari performance at Baradari. Dinesh complained of breathlessness after playing the Pakhawaj for 15-20 minutes, according to Zeeshan Abbas, who was accompanying him on Sarangi. He was sent to the hospital right away, but medics stated he died on the way. On Tuesday his final rites were conducted. His wife Kamlesh, son Piyush, and three daughters, Nidhi, Ruchi, and Shruti, survive him. Dinesh Prasad was a music teacher at the Sangeet Natak Akademi from 1989 until 2014.  In 2005, he was also given the SNA Award. He was a great tabla player as well as a Pakhawaj player.