Bilaspur (HP) | Noted shehnai player from Himachal Pradesh Surajmani passed away at the AIIMS-Bilaspur, officials said on Friday. He was 63.

Suffering from chronic pancreatitis, Surajmani breathed his last on Thursday. He is survived by wife and two sons.

Hailing from Chachiot village in the Nachan area of Mandi district, Surajmani was often referred to as the "Bismillah Khan of Himachal" after the late shehnai maestro.

He was known for his contributions in preserving the folk-music traditions of the hill state.

Sources said Surajmani suffered a pancreatic attack soon after returning home from Chandigarh, where he had gone for a recording.

He was first admitted to a hospital in Mandi from where he was referred to the AIIMS, Bilaspur.

The auspicious sound of Surajmani's shehnai became a trademark feature of any district or state-level function in Himachal Pradesh. He also performed in the US.

Condoling the demise, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said in a statement that popularly known as Bismillah Khan of Himachal Pradesh, Surajmani left a mark of his art both in the country and abroad.

The cultural evenings of the International Shivratri Mahotsav in Mandi used to start with the sound of Surajmani's shehnai, he added.

A large number of artistes, musicians and fans from across the state also mourned Surajmani's death.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Jairam Thakur and Nachan MLA Vinod Kumar were among the politicians and administrative officials who expressed their grief over Surajmani passing away.