Freedom fighter and former Orissa chief minister Nilamani Routray, whose political career spanned nearly half a century, passed away in Cuttack on Monday following a prolonged illness.

Routray, 84, was admitted to the SCB Medical College Hospital on August 16. His condition deteriorated on Sunday. The end came at 7.25 am due to cardio-vascular failure.

He is survived by his only son Bijoyshree Routray, who is the state's health and family welfare minister.
 
His son, daughter-in-law, grandsons and other family members were present at his bedside when he breathed his last.

The body was brought to Bhubaneswar from Cuttack and kept at his Kharavela Nagar residence.

Governor M M Rajendran, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, members of his cabinet, including BJP legislature party  leader and Rural Development Minister Biswabhushan Harichandan and former chief ministers J B Patnaik and Hemananda Biswal paid their last respects to the departed soul.

The state government also declared a three-day mourning and ordered.