New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS): Condolences have poured in for noted Urdu poet Rahat Indori, who passed away on Tuesday after suffering a cardiac arrest. The poet had also tested positive for Covid-19.

Offering his condolences, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted in Hindi, "I am deeply saddened by the news of the demise of noted poet Rahat Indoriji. He was an ardent personality of Urdu admiration. He has left an indelible mark on the hearts of people by his memorable poetries. It is a great loss for the literary world. I extend my condolences to his loved ones in this hour of grief."

"My heart sank after I got to know about your demise. It has created a vaccum in the literary world which will be difficult to fill," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted in Hindi.

Quoting pne of Indori's couplets, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Ab na main un na baki hai zamane mere, phir bhi mashhoor hai shahron mein fasane mere... Alvida Rahat Indori sahab."

Leader of Opposition in the Upper House, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said in his condolence message, "He will be remembered for his free, fair and fearless poetic expressions."

"India has lost a great Urdu poet; I salute the departed soul of Rahat Indori, the voice of millions of Indians," Azad tweeted.

Indori, a poet and painter, taught Urdu literature at the Indore University before foraying into Bollywood as a lyricist.

Among the many memorable verses he created for Hindi films are "Neend churayi meri" and "Dekho dekho jaanam" ("Ishq"), "Chori chori jab nazrein mili" ("Kareeb"), "M bole toh" and "Chhan chhan" ("Munna Bhai MBBS"), "Dil ko hazaar baar" ("Murder"), "Tumsa koi pyaara" ("Khuddar") and the title song of "Sir".

His popular books include "Do Kadam Aur Sahi", "Maujood", "Chand Pagal Hai", "Mere Baad" and "Naraz".