Monday, August 21 2006 14:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government today (Aug 21, 2006)declared a one-day national mourning in view of the death of shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan.

Home Ministry officials said Khan would be given a state funeral.

Flags would be flown at half mast in all the government buildings as part of the mourning.

Khan, one of India's most celebrated classical musicians, who had been ailing for quite some time, died of cardiac arrest at the Heritage hospital in Varanasi in the wee hours today.