MUMBAI: Ghazal legend Mehdi Hassan passed away today in Karachi after suffering from multiple health problems.

84 year old Hassan was admitted to the intensive care unit of Aga Khan hospital in Karachi on Monday and was being treated by specialists for multiple lung, chest and urinary tract ailments.He had been ill for the last few years due to serious lung conditions that had led to complications and breathing problems.

Confirming the news his son Arif Hassan said, “My father passed away at 12:22 pm after a long battle against different ailments.”

Hassan told PTI yesterday, "My father has been ill for the last 12 years but this year his condition has deteriorated significantly and in the last one month he was released from hospital for just one day before being admitted again. "

Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, Hariharan said, “My ruhani guru is no more. I have to accept it. It is a mukti for Khan Saab, since he was suffering so much. God bless his soul.”

When contacted, Gulzar Saab was too emotional on the demise of the maestro and couldn't speak much.

Kavita Seth: "Hazaron saal nargis apni benoori pe roti hai, badi mushkil se hota hai chaman me deedawar paida. Mehdi Hassan saab jaisa fankaar na hua hai aur na hi hoga. Unki gazalon ko sun sun kar bade huey hain. Itni asani se mushkil baat ko kah jaana aur woh bhi rooh se! Kitni roohani awaz! Kalakar kabhi marta nahi hai."

Lalit Pandit: "Mehdi Hassan Saab was the Shahenshah of ghazals. He started his career with classical singing and after a lot of struggle started rendering ghazals. With utmost beauty he created the blend of classical and ghazal singing and reached a level which cannot be beaten by anyone in this world. There are only two personalities who can never be replaced - Lata Mangeshkar and Mehdi Hassan. He actually defined the meaning of ghazal singing, with grace and beauty. He broke all the limits of music and will never ever be replaced."

Kailash Kher: "It is really a big loss to the ghazal and music industry. In the past, so many legends like Bhupen Hazarika and Jagjit Singhji left us and now Mehdi Hassan’s death has left a deep void in the ghazal music space. Though musicians do not belong to any country, his roots belonged to India in Rajasthan, but the world belonged to him. The kind of fan following he had in India, could not be compared to any other country in the world. It is indeed a very heavy loss for us. I pray to the almighty that may his soul rest in peace and his family has a better life ahead. His contributions to ghazals and the music industry will always be remembered.

Irshad Kamil: “Mehdi Hassan saab was not just a heart rendering singer, but a magician who could unravel the hidden meanings and nuances of Urdu poetry. The immense recognition and stature of not only ghazal but Urdu poetry is unimaginable without his huge contribution. The importance, colours and fragrances of ‘Mehndi’ can never diminish from the hearts of music lovers for time immemorial.”

Sukhwinder Singh: “The ghazal era was started by Begum Akhtar, but it was only Mehdi Hassan who brought it to such a wide platform and gave it due recognition. First, we lost Jagjit Singh and now Mehdi Hassan. It is indeed a big loss and we will never be able to find another Ghazal maestro like him. I now feel like the era of ghazals is almost over. If there is any artiste who can revive the genre like these maestros did, then the era can survive. I seriously wish the ghazal era can continue, as Mehdi Hassan was a genius. May god bless his soul. All I can say now is may his soul rest in peace and god bless his family.”

Lata Mangeshkar tweeted: "Aaj bahut bade ghazal gayak Mehdi Hassan saab hamare beech nahi rahe, mujhe is baat ka bahut dukh hain. Ghazal gaayki ke shetra main unhone bahut bade parivartan laye, aaj unke jaane se ghazal ki badi haani hui hai. Ab unke jaisa kalakar phir se aana mushkil hai. Wo shastriya sangeet ke gayak bhi the, aur unke gaane me rajasthan ke sangeet ki khushboo bhi thi.Unhone mere liye kuch gaane banaaye the, unme se hi ek ghazal unhone mujhe gaake bheji thi, uska maine duet karke record kiya tha.Unke saath mera ye ek hi gaana hai. Main ishwar se prarthana karti hun, ki Mehdi saab ki aatma ko woh shaanti pradan karein."

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh: “Hassan brought the sub-continental Sufi sensibilities to life through his songs. The influence of his passion for Urdu poetry and early grooming in Dhrupad tradition earned him a special place in the world of music.”

Shreya Ghoshal : "Mehdi Hassan sa'ab is no more. Saddened beyond comprehension. Jagjit ji, now Mehdi Sa'ab. The voice, who made many music lovers find an expression of their heart's stories, is gone. RIP."

Anupam Kher: "Very saddened to hear about my favourite Gazal Singer Mehdi Hassan's demise. As a student had gate crashed into Pak Embassy to listen to him. RIP."

Shankar Mahadevan: RIP #Mehdi Hassan saab, huge loss to the world of music...your Voice is immortal though.

Daler Mehndi: “Saluting the Ghazal maestro Ustad Mehndi Hassan Khan Saheb on his final journey.. An astounding singer and a great human.. Rab Rakha. Bhot dukh hua !! Jagjit Ji ke baad ek aur baraa fankaar hum sabko apne meethi yaadein de kar chalaa gya. Ghazal samrat Mehndi Hassan Saheb ki sureeli Awaz ko sadeeyo tak log bhula nahi payenge!”

Sona Mohapatra:"Most remember him as Shahenshah-e-ghazal but Mehdi Hasan who had Rajasthani roots was a maestro beyond!Dhrupad,Khayal & my fav Mand's ! RIP"

Shweta Pandit: "Deeply saddened to hear about legend Mehdi Hassan saab's demise. The shahenshah of music!! #RIP "aa phir se, magar, na jaane ke liye aa"

Ali Zafar: “Mehdi Hassan moves on & lives forever. Leaving us with a legacy of music, magic, memories and so much more than words can describe. In my opinion, govt should build an institution on his name to continue his legacy through young/aspiring and established singers/musicians.”

The voice behind evergreen ghazals like Ab Ke Bichade and Patta Patta Boota Boota, had stepped down from playback singing and cut back on his performances in the late 80s due to illness.

Hassan was born into a family of traditional musicians at Luna village in India's Rajasthan state in 1927. His family migrated to Pakistan during Partition. He wanted to visit India in 2010 for treatment and wished to meet Lata Mangeshkar, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. The visit could not take place and his earlier planned visit in 2008 was also cancelled in wake of Mumbai terror attack. The singer last performed in India in 2000.