Pune: Renowned social worker and mother of 1400 orphan children Sindhutai Sapkal died after suffering a heart attack here on Tuesday night.
She was 74 and breathed her last around 2100 hrs at Galaxy Hospital.
The Padmashri awardee was not keeping well for the last few days. She was popularly known as " Mai".
She was running an orphanage in the name of "Sanmati bal Niketan" located at Hadapsar area in city.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari expressed condolences on the demise of noted social worker.
In his condolence message, he writes: "The demise of Smt Sindhutai Sapkal is deeply saddening. Despite suffering difficulties in her own personal life, Sindhutai dedicated her life to the service of thousands of orphaned and abandoned children. She was an epitome of love and compassion. Her demise has orphaned all of her children. I offer my condolences to her large family and pray for eternal peace to the departed soul."
Former Pune Deputy Mayor Deepak Mankar also mourned her demise.
Recipient of many national and Maharashtra government awards, Sapkal was the role model of Maharashtra, said Mankar.
Recalling the old memory, he said that Mai recognition towards her social work had came to light when she was bagged Jamunalal Bajaj awards in 2002 from the Haryana government.