Massudul Hassan Kanth passes away

Srinagar, Oct 16: A renowned personality who had a long association with several media houses in Kashmir, Massudul Hassan Kanth, passed away on Thursday morning after a brief period of illness. He was 68.

In his early years, Kanth worked with the Greater Kashmir newspaper for several years and would look after the management of the media house.

Later, he also worked in the office of the Associated Press in Srinagar.

On Thursday morning, his funeral prayers were held at HMT Srinagar, and he was later laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Old City Srinagar.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Kanth's son, Fareed Ahmad, said he was admitted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar last week after he complained of low saturation.

"He was diagnosed with CA lungs two years ago and was receiving regular therapies for it. He did not die of this ailment," Fareed told Greater Kashmir.

Fareed said that Kanth passed away a week after the death of his brother-in-law, Zahid Mukhtar.

"When Zahid passed away, we did not tell him, but one of the relatives shared it with my father, following which he complained of low saturation and was admitted to SMHS," he said. He said he was in the ICU at SMHS for a week and passed away on Thursday morning.

Till last year, Kanth was taking care of the management of the Foundation World School (FWS).

"The new building of FWS at Rangpora was constructed during his tenure. But since last month, we have not allowed him to continue his job because of his ailment," he said.

The passing away of Kanth has been widely condoled.

Editor in Chief of Greater Kashmir, Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo, expressed grief over the demise of Kanth. "He was our well-wisher from the beginning. His demise is a personal loss to me," he said.

Printer and Publisher of Greater Kashmir, Rashid Makhdoomi, extended his heartfelt condolences to Kanth and said he was associated with the organisation from day one.

"Kanth was associated with our organisation for a long time. He was part of our management. He was a jolly person. The news of his demise came as a shock to me," Rashid Makhdoomi said. "We all miss him," he said.

Senior journalist Yusuf Jameel also paid rich tributes to Kanth."I am deeply saddened by the passing of our former colleague. He had been unwell for some time, and his condition worsened recently, leading to his death in the hospital this morning. Rest in eternal peace, Massud. You were candid yet kind-hearted and sincere," he wrote on his Facebook.