July 25, 2008	Friday	Rajab 21, 1429

HYDERABAD, July 24: Vocalist Urs Manganhar, who was pupil of celebrated classical singer Ustad Manzoor Ali Khan, has died of liver failure after he failed to get the organ transplanted due to financial constraints. He was 52.

He leaves behind a wife, three sons and four daughters. He was buried amid tears in Yaqoob Shaheed graveyard in Bhit Shah on Wednesday evening.

The folk singer was diagnosed with hepatitis during last Muharram and further investigations revealed that he was a chronic hepatitis-C patient. The disease damages liver beyond cure and need transplantation, not an easy option for middle class people.

His only source of income was singing and he did not have enough resources to buy himself proper treatment. He remained in Liaquat University Hospital’s Jamshoro branch for over a fortnight as chronic liver disease (CLD) patient with hepatitis-C.

Doctors had told him that he needed liver transplantation, which would cost him heavily. In the meantime, when news about his ill-health was aired by channels and published in papers he was delivered Rs25,000 by an official of culture department on behalf of Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palejo.

“I need only treatment of my disease and not any monetary assistance,” his brother, Imdad quoted him as telling the culture dept officials.

“Then we brought him back home where he kept vomiting blood till he finally departed from this world,” Imdad said.

Late Urs’ eldest son is Mehboob Ali, 19, who could complete only his eighth grade because of poverty. Imdad said Ali was the only one who could be appointed in government service to feed the family.