Artist and writer Alka Raghuvanshi passes away at her Delhi home

Artist

, art critic, writer and a popular face in Delhi’s cultural space

Alka Raghuvanshi

passed away on Wednesday afternoon at her home in

Hauz Khas

. The news was shared by her friends on social media. Actor Rajesh Tailang was one of the first ones to write on her Facebook page, “Aur Alka didi bhi chali gayi..aapse gale lagne ki tamanna reh gayi…baatcheet jo aakhri ho gayi…Lots of hugs didi! You will be missed (sic).”

Alka’s friends shared with us that she was suffering from pneumonia from the last three months and was undergoing treatment at her Delhi home.

Bharatnatyam

dancer and Alka’s close friend Prathibha Prahlad told us, “All we know is that she tested negative for

COVID-19

, but had pneumonia and was undergoing treatment at her home. We all thought she was getting better. She would often text us whenever she would feel slightly better and would tell us ‘don’t tell anyone, I would live to tell the story.’ The news of her demise is heartbreaking. She was so full of life and a very warm and kind person, above all a great and loyal friend. She passed away around 1pm on Wednesday and it was shocking for all of us.” Prathibha also shared that it was just a few days ago that she had a chat with Alka. “She wrote to me, ‘I have been through a very harrowing time. Recovery still very slow. Will live to tell the tale. Just a few lines to say that you are special and in my thoughts... And that I love you, looking forward to laughing and seeing you.... Soon I hope.’ I was really hoping and waiting to meet her soon,” said Prathibha.