Tirupati, Apr 21 (PTI): Former Odisha Chief Minister Janaki Ballabh Patnaik died at a hospital early Tuesday following a cardiac arrest, a few hours after he offered prayers at the Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.

Patnaik, 89, passed away at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in the temple city, its Director and Vice-Chancellor Dr B. Vengamma told PTI.

Patnaik, a former governor of Assam, had arrived here on Monday to participate in the convocation of Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha and offered prayers at the temple late Monday night, a temple official said.

Patnaik complained of chest pain at midnight and was immediately shifted to the hospital, Vengamma said, but he could not be saved.

The Vidyapeetha officials are making arrangements to airlift the body to Odisha. The last rites would be performed in Puri.

Patnaik was Odisha’s chief minister for three terms—the first two from 1980 to 1989, and then again from 1995 for the third term.

The Odisha government has announced a holiday on Tuesday as a mark of respect.

A week-long state mourning was also declared.

A multi-faceted personality known for his rich contribution to literature and culture, Patnaik was born on January 3, 1927.

He became the chief minister in 1980 and continued in the office till 1989. He returned to power in 1995 and remained the CM till 1999.

Patnaik, a former Union cabinet minister, was appointed the Governor of Assam in 2009.

After completing early education at Khurda High School, Patnaik passed BA in Sanskrit from the Utkal University in 1947 and did an MA in Political Science from the Banaras Hindu University in 1949.