Shehnai maestro Ustaad Bismillah Khan unwell

Varanasi/Lucknow, Aug 16: Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan is indisposed and has been put on a fluid diet by his family doctor.

The Bharat Ratna awardee's son Kazim Hussain told UNI here that the Ustad has been put on a glucose drip by family doctor Nadim Jafri. ''He has not taken any solid diet for the past 15 days...on the whole his condition is stable,'' he said.

The Shehnai exponent could be shifted to a hospital either in this holy city or the state capital if his condition deteriorates, his son said.

A large number of well-wishers had gathered at his Harha Sarai residence here following reports that he was hospitalised. ''He is at home and has not been hospitalised,'' Hussain clarified.

Meanwhile, in the state capital chief secretary N C Bajpai told reporters the Varanasi administration has been asked to ensure that the 91-year-old maestro is provided with the best possible medical care. ''The district administration would decide whether to shift him to a hospital...he could also be brought to Lucknow if required,'' he added.

UNI