Patna: Former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra died on Monday (August 19) following a prolonged illness.

The 82-year-old leader had cancer and was undergoing treatment at the national capital, where he breathed his last in the morning, they said.

Condoling his demise, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar announced a three-day state mourning.

He was an acclaimed political leader and educationist. His death has caused an irreparable loss not just to Bihar but the entire country, Kumar said in a message.

Governor Phagu Chauhan also condoled the death of Mishra and recalled his contributions as a three-time chief minister and, later, as a Union minister.

Jagannath, formerly involved at a high level in the Indian National Congress (INC), was elected as the chief minister of Bihar three times. After his brother LN Mishra's assassination, Jagannath became arguably Bihar's most powerful Congress leader for much of the late 1970s and 80s.