Odia singer Tapu Mishra succumbs to post-Covid complications

BHUBANESWAR: The deadly second wave of covid-19 has taken away another celebrity of Odia film industry. Popular playback singer Tapu Mishra succumbed to Covid-19 related complications at a private hospital here on late Saturday night.
After battling Covid for around a month, Tapu succumbed to complications and serious lung infection. She was on a ventilator for the last few days and did not respond for the last two days. She was 36. With her untimely demise the industry lost a versatile singer who had lent her voice to more than 500 songs in over 150 Odia films, albums, devotional songs in a career spanning over two decades.
Family sources said she tested positive on May 19 and was in home isolation. Later she was shifted to a private hospital on May 31 after her oxygen saturation dropped to 45. Later, she was shifted to Sum Covid Hospital ten days back where she breathed her last. Though she tested negative, her lung infection got serious.
The family members had urged the government to form a team of doctors for better treatment of Tapu and also planned to shift her to outside state. The culture department on Friday sanctioned Rs one lakh from the Artist Welfare Fund for her treatment.
A pall of gloom spread among members of the film fraternity after the demise of Tapu spread across. Condolences started pouring in from all quarters.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik took to twitter and wrote: “I am deeply saddened over the death of popular singer Tapu Mishra. She will always be remembered for her achievements in the Odia film industry. May her soul rest in peace and my condolences are with the bereaved family.”
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan also expressed grief on the death of Tapu and said with her mesmerizing voice she became popular in Odia households. “In her demise Odisha lost a very talented singer,” he posted.
Several members of film industry thronged her residence in Palasuni and later at Satyanagar crematorium to pay their last tribute to Tapu, where her last rites were conducted on Sunday morning following Covid guidelines. Her father had also died due to Covid-19 on May 10.
“We lost a true gem in Tapu’s untimely demise. She had a fantastic voice and a unique accent of presentation,” said actor Sritam Das and secretary of Odisha Cine Artists’ Association.
Actor Sabyasachi Mishra tweeted, “We cannot believe that you left us so early. Another star increased in the sky. We could not do anything. Rest in Peace.”
Music director Prem Anand also expressed shock over the passing away of Tapu. “It will remain a big disappointment that we could have done something more to bring her back. It is hard to believe that Tapu is no more with us,” Anand added.
“This is not an age to leave. Tapu left a big vacuum not only in the industry but also in the lives of everyone who knew her,” said Kuna Tripathy, chairman of Odisha Film Development Corporation.