Lata Mangeshkar health update: Veteran singer doing well, confirms niece Rachana Shah

Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar is recovering well and continues to remain in the ICU, according to her family. The 92-year-old singer tested positive for coronavirus with mild symptoms and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Breach Candy Hospital in south Mumbai on Saturday (January 8). Sharing an update on Mangeshkar’s health, her niece Rachana Shah on Thursday said the singer is keeping well.

“She is doing well and we are happy about it. Everyone’s prayers have worked. Kindly, keep our privacy in mind,” Shah told PTI.

On Thursday (January 13), doctors noted a slight improvement in her health. Dr Pratit Samdani, who is treating Lata Mangeshkar, said “She is still in the ICU ward but there has been a slight improvement in her health.”

Earlier, Shah had told PTI that Mangeshkar was admitted to the ICU as she requires “constant care” due to her age. “She is mild COVID positive. Considering her age, doctors advised us that she should be in the ICU because she requires constant care. And we cannot take a chance. As a family we want the best and want to ensure she has 24X7 care,” she had said.

In November 2019, Mangeshkar was admitted to the same hospital after she complained of difficulty in breathing and was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was discharged after 28 days.

Regarded as one of Indian cinema’s greatest singers, Mangeshkar started her career at the age of 13 in 1942 and has over 30,000 songs to her credit in several Indian languages. In her over seven-decade career, she has sung various memorable tracks such as “Ajeeb dastan hai ye”, “Pyar kiya to darna kya”, “Neela asman so gaya”, and “Tere liye”, among others.

The singer — known as Nightingale of India — has been lauded with numerous awards and honors including the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, and multiple National Film Awards.

She is also a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.