Srinagar: Senior journalist Tariq Bhat passed away here on Tuesday following a heart attack, family sources said. He was 54.
Bhat, the Jammu and Kashmir bureau chief of news magazine ‘The Week’, passed away at 7:30 am.
He complained of chest pain at his residence and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, the sources said.
Bhat was later laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Dalgate area of the city here.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, National Conference (NC) chief Dr Farooq Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, and the media fraternity on Tuesday expressed grief and shock over his demise.
Bhat passed away on Tuesday morning after suffering a massive cardiac attack. He was 54 and left behind a wife and three little children.
PDP in its post on X quoted the party chief Mehbooba Mufti as expressing shock over his sudden demise. “PDP President & Former J&K CM @MehboobaMufti expresses her shock over the sudden demise of senior journalist Tariq Bhat sahab & condoled his passing. Remembering him as a respected voice who captured J&K’s nuances with depth & sincerity, she prayed for his magfirat and for strength to his family, friends & colleagues to bear this irreparable loss,” JKPDP wrote.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President, Tariq Hameed Karra, also expressed profound grief over the demise.
In a condolence message, JKPCC President described the sudden passing of Tariq Bhat heart-wrenching and shocking & said the sudden demise of Bhat has left him speechless. “I have no words to express my grief. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family. I express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and relatives of the deceased,” Karra said.
Apni Party president, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari wrote: “Saddened to hear that veteran journalist Tariq Ahmad Bhat passed away this morning due to a cardiac arrest. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. His untimely demise at such a young age is truly heartbreaking. May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal peace and give strength to his family to bear this irreparable loss. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Director Information, Nitish Rajora expressed deep grief over Bhat’s death, calling his demise an irreparable loss to Kashmir’s journalistic fraternity.
In his condolence message, the Director Information said that Bhat was an accredited journalist with DIPR with high degree of professionalism and integrity, and his passing has created a deep void in the media fraternity of Kashmir which cannot be filled so easily.
The Director also expressed sympathy with the family members of Tariq Bhat and prayed for peace for the departed soul.
The employees of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Bhat. They also expressed deep sympathies with the bereaved family members, and prayed for the highest place in ‘Jannah’ for Tariq Bhat and forbearance for family members in this moment of grief.
‘Kashmir Images’ also mourns Bhat’s demise and prays for his eternal peace and ‘Magfirah’.
