Washington: India on March 27 expressed deep shock and sadness on the death of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a former US Ambassador, who had strived for closer Indo-US relations.

Ambassador Lalit Mansingh said in a statement that Senator Moynihan's life was a truly extraordinary one, and underlined that throughout his long and distinguished career, he was a tireless advocate for closer India-US relations.

"Initially, as the Ambassador of the United States to India and, subsequently, as a Senator, he contributed immensely to strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two countries and peoples.

"His passing away will leave a void. He will be mourned not only by the people of the United States but by all the people of India," Mansingh said in his condolence message.

Mansingh also wrote to Moynihan's daughter Maura that "Senator Moynihan's passing away is also a great personal loss. His warm and charismatic personality was a source of inspiration to me.

"I always enjoyed our interaction and greatly benefited from his advice," he said expressing heartfelt condolences to the family.

Senator Moynihan, a New City shoeshine boy, who became an iconoclastic scholar- politician and who served four terms in the US Senate, died on March 27. He was 76.

PTI