Mourners await news on Subhash Chakroborty, the Minister of Transport of India's West Bengal state government, as they gather in front of a hospital in Kolkata yesterday. Chakroborty, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), died at the age of 68 at a private hospital in Kolkata on Monday. Photo: AFP

West Bengal Minister for Transport and Sports and senior CPI-M leader Subhas Chakraborty died at a private hospital here yesterday. He was 68.
Chakraborty, whose health condition had sharply deteriorated since Sunday, breathed his last at 11.35 am.
CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose announced the death at the hospital, which was thronged by party workers and supporters.
West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi yesterday condoled the death of Subhas Chakraborty, describing him as a ''mass leader''.
"A dedicated trade-unionist, experienced administrator and lover of sports and culture, Subhas Chakraborty will be best remembered as a mass-leader," the Governor said in his message.
Offering tribute, Gandhi said "I extend my sincerest condolences to his family and associates."