Jharkhand education minister and senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Ramdas Soren passed away at the age of 62 late August 15 night at a private hospital in New Delhi, where he had been battling for life following a severe brain injury earlier this month.

Soren suffered the injury after a fall in the bathroom at his residence on August 2 and was airlifted to Delhi for advanced treatment. Despite being placed on life support and monitored by a team of specialists, he succumbed late August 15.

On August 16 morning, his mortal remains were flown back to Ranchi and placed at the Jharkhand Assembly premises for public homage. Ministers, legislators, and political leaders across party lines gathered to pay their respects.

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, and several ministers and MPs joined the tributes. “The untimely death of Ramdas Soren ji is an irreparable loss to the state,” Governor Gangwar said, recalling his visit to the minister’s bedside a week ago.

Speaker Mahato described Soren as “a sepoy and crusader of the separate Jharkhand movement” who later became a legislator and minister. “He was a simple, popular leader who served with sincerity. His demise is a great loss,” he said.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who could not be present due to post-funeral rituals of his father and JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, sent Transport Minister Deepak Birua to represent him. “On behalf of the Chief Minister, I pay homage to Ramdas Da,” Birua posted on X.

From Ranchi, the body will be taken to his assembly constituency, Ghatshila, where it will be placed at Mau Bhandar Maidan and the JMM camp office for supporters and constituents to pay their last respects.

The Jharkhand government has declared one-day state mourning in his memory.